Unit 9: Assignment 3
Infection Prevention and
Control
By Tuana Sabah
, PASS
(C.P6) Explain how organisational policies and procedures apply legislation to
prevent the transmission of different infections in a named health or social
care organisation.
Infection prevention and control is a discipline that aims to prevent or control the spread of
infections in healthcare facilities and the community. Infection, prevention and control,
procedures and policies designed to reduce the spread of infections, usually within
healthcare facilities. The primary goals of an Infection, prevention and control policy or
procedure are to prevent susceptible patients developing pathogenic micro-organisms and
to limit the spread of antimicrobial resistant infections. The North Cumbria Integrated Care
(NCIC) NHS Foundation Trust have multiple policies in place about infection prevention and
control, a couple being ‘COVID 19 Infection Prevention Control Policy’, ‘Hand Hygiene
Policy’, ‘The Acute Respiratory Infections (including Influenza) Policy’, ‘Outbreak Policy’ as
well as others.
The COVID 19 Infection Prevention Control Policy describes the measures to be taken in
order to detect and manage cases of COVID 19. This NCIC policy follows the national PHE
Infection prevention COVID-19 guidance with some locally approved additions for NCIC. All
NCIC staff must follow this policy however this policy doesn’t require any mandatory
training. The six key requirements in this policy are as followed. “1. Suspected cases must be
isolated wherever possible or cohorted on agreed areas. 2. Staff must follow all guidance
within the policy 3. Strict adherence to infection prevention precautions outlined within this
policy must be adhered to 4. All staff whose role involves wearing and donning of FFP3
masks must seek appropriate fit test training. 5. Staff must follow all additional COVID-19
NCIC operational processes in addition to this policy when caring for and managing patients
6. Nosocomial COVID cases must be investigated and reported via the NCIC incident
reporting processes”. These requirements are in place as this is the best way to ensure that
individuals and service users can be safe. [6] The NCIC manage patents by following the
three care pathways depending on the risk of patients/individuals having COVID-19. The
high-risk pathway is when a patient is confirmed to have COVID-19 by a PCR test and those
who have symptoms and are awaiting results. The medium risk pathway is those who are
waiting for their PCR test results and have no symptoms of COVID. Lastly the low-risk
pathway is those who have been tested negative and have no symptoms of COVID. A way
infection can be controlled is by wearing a facemask, undertake regular hand hygiene,
frequently clean and maintain a clutter free environment and keep a social distance of 2
metres whenever possible. [7] COVID is an infectious virus spread through droplets in the air
so it is important that everyone wears face coverings so that any droplets from the mouth
or nose is caught in the mask to stop anyone from contracting it.
The Hand Hygiene Policy is another policy the NCIC follow and regulate. This policy
emphasises the role of effective hand decontamination in the management and prevention
Infection Prevention and
Control
By Tuana Sabah
, PASS
(C.P6) Explain how organisational policies and procedures apply legislation to
prevent the transmission of different infections in a named health or social
care organisation.
Infection prevention and control is a discipline that aims to prevent or control the spread of
infections in healthcare facilities and the community. Infection, prevention and control,
procedures and policies designed to reduce the spread of infections, usually within
healthcare facilities. The primary goals of an Infection, prevention and control policy or
procedure are to prevent susceptible patients developing pathogenic micro-organisms and
to limit the spread of antimicrobial resistant infections. The North Cumbria Integrated Care
(NCIC) NHS Foundation Trust have multiple policies in place about infection prevention and
control, a couple being ‘COVID 19 Infection Prevention Control Policy’, ‘Hand Hygiene
Policy’, ‘The Acute Respiratory Infections (including Influenza) Policy’, ‘Outbreak Policy’ as
well as others.
The COVID 19 Infection Prevention Control Policy describes the measures to be taken in
order to detect and manage cases of COVID 19. This NCIC policy follows the national PHE
Infection prevention COVID-19 guidance with some locally approved additions for NCIC. All
NCIC staff must follow this policy however this policy doesn’t require any mandatory
training. The six key requirements in this policy are as followed. “1. Suspected cases must be
isolated wherever possible or cohorted on agreed areas. 2. Staff must follow all guidance
within the policy 3. Strict adherence to infection prevention precautions outlined within this
policy must be adhered to 4. All staff whose role involves wearing and donning of FFP3
masks must seek appropriate fit test training. 5. Staff must follow all additional COVID-19
NCIC operational processes in addition to this policy when caring for and managing patients
6. Nosocomial COVID cases must be investigated and reported via the NCIC incident
reporting processes”. These requirements are in place as this is the best way to ensure that
individuals and service users can be safe. [6] The NCIC manage patents by following the
three care pathways depending on the risk of patients/individuals having COVID-19. The
high-risk pathway is when a patient is confirmed to have COVID-19 by a PCR test and those
who have symptoms and are awaiting results. The medium risk pathway is those who are
waiting for their PCR test results and have no symptoms of COVID. Lastly the low-risk
pathway is those who have been tested negative and have no symptoms of COVID. A way
infection can be controlled is by wearing a facemask, undertake regular hand hygiene,
frequently clean and maintain a clutter free environment and keep a social distance of 2
metres whenever possible. [7] COVID is an infectious virus spread through droplets in the air
so it is important that everyone wears face coverings so that any droplets from the mouth
or nose is caught in the mask to stop anyone from contracting it.
The Hand Hygiene Policy is another policy the NCIC follow and regulate. This policy
emphasises the role of effective hand decontamination in the management and prevention
