Sheffield Local Involvement Network

Earlier this year, our intrepid bug busters, Maureen Stoneman and Helen Rowe, undertook 'enter and view' visits to the Royal Hallamshire and Northern General hospitals on behalf of the Infection Control Action Group. They made a number of recommendations and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (STH) has now responded with an action plan.

One recommendation that we put forward was that there should be greater clarity about who can use the sinks on the ward. STH has stated that sinks in patient bays are for use by staff, patients and visitors. They have agreed that in future, admission staff will inform patients that they and their visitors can use these sinks to wash their hands. STH has also given the names of those leading on this action and how it will be monitored. Although a relatively small measure, this is just one example of how LINk is working with local trusts to public tackle concerns like hospital-borne infections.