Infection Control

We are fully committed to the prevention of Health Care-Associated Infections (HCAIs) and to ensuring compliance with the Health Act (2008) code of practice for the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infection (DH, 2008) across all commissioned and provided services.

Infection prevention and control is everyone’s responsibility and to support this approach, our Infection Prevention & Control (IP&C) Team work collaboratively with teams in each of the acute trusts and with general practitioners and primary care staff across the county. Advice and support is available to all healthcare staff including dentists, podiatrists, optometrists and other allied staff.

Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) is positively encouraged and the Somerset infection control team have actively participated in public awareness sessions and patient information forums.

Infection control in Care Homes

Infection control in Primary Care

Infection control norovirus and other restrictions

Managing common infections guidance for Primary Care

Commissioning expectations

NHS Somerset expects the services we commission to comply with specific regulations. In relation to Infection Prevention and Control the expectation is that services will be delivered as set out in The Health and Social Care Act 2008 Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.