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Support and advice to ensure a clean and safe environment for our patients and service users.
- Base: Wayside House
- Directorate: Nursing, Safety and Quality
- Address: Wayside House, Wilsons Lane, Coventry, CV6 6NY
- Reception hours: 08:30 - 17:00
- Reception phone number: 024 7636 2100
About us
The aim of the infection control team is to ensure that service users accessing and those members of staff providing healthcare services on behalf of the Trust do so in a safe and clean environment.
The Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice for the NHS on the Control and Prevention of Health Care Associated Infection requires all Trusts to have clear arrangements for the effective prevention, detection, and control of healthcare associated infection (HCAI).
We have an infection prevention team of nurses and practitioners led by a Matron, who leads the Trust's efforts to prevent and control infections. The team work collaboratively with a range of other services within the trust to:
- Provide specialist Infection Prevention and Control advice.
- Manage outbreaks of infection.
- Formulate a programme of Infection Control education and training for staff.
- Implement infection control audits to monitor trust compliance against the Health and Social Care Act (2008).
- Developing Trust wide Infection Control policies in line with National Guidance.
- Advise on infection control issues relating to new buildings or refurbishment works.
- Liaise with other agencies and disseminate relevant information.
Contact us:
Our wards and services can contact the Infection Control Nurses about any issues relating to infection prevention and control by email infection.control@covwarkpt.nhs.uk. or telephone Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm on 07824 300109 / 07740 803796.
Our team
Lead Nurse
Infection Prevention Lead Matron Lydia Mawema
Email: infection.control@covwarkpt.nhs.uk
Infection Prevention Nurses:
Patricia Gott
Contact Number: 07740803796
Email: infection.control@covwarkpt.nhs.uk
Suzanne Coleman
Contact number: 07824300109
Important information
Clean hands
Hand hygiene is the single most important measure for preventing the transmission of infection. The Trust has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to adhering to its strict hand hygiene policy. Our staff are required to clean their hands before and after direct patient contact, before an aseptic task, after exposure to blood or body fluids and after contact with patient’s immediate surroundings. They are also required to clean their hands upon entering and leaving the hospital and ward areas. We welcome patients and visitors to challenge our staff if they are not happy the policy has been adhered to.
How you can help
Hand hygiene
Please help us by ensuring you clean your hands using the alcohol gel dispensers when entering and leaving the wards/units and using hot water and soap when entering ward areas.
Not feeling well?
Please don't come to the Trust wards/units if you are suffering from symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting or respiratory infections. If you have an appointment and you are suffering from these symptoms, please contact the relevant ward or department.
MRSA Screening Compliance Statement
As a trust it is essential, we take all the actions we can to minimise the risk of individuals using our services and acquiring an infection. In line with department of health MRSA Screening Guidance for Mental health Settings (2009) and the Trust MRSA Management Policy, service users admitted to our inpatient mental health settings, who are identified as having an increased risk of infection, are offered MRSA screening as soon as this is practicable. As a Trust we believe this enhanced infection prevention and control activity will result in safer care for all our patients and compliments the many other practices we have in place to prevent and control infections.
Further details are available in our MRSA policy and are available on request. For further information contact our Infection Prevention team on: infection.control@covwarkpt.nhs.uk
Flu advice
The flu vaccine is the best defence we have against the spread of flu so please have yours if you are entitled to a free vaccine.
Please help us to protect our patients and staff by not attending A&E or the hospital if you are unwell with flu-like symptoms. You should always contact your GP or call NHS 111 in the first instance, to be advised further. Visit your GP if symptoms do not improve after 7 days or if you have a long-term condition.
The best thing to do if you have flu is to stay in the warm, drink plenty of fluids and rest. Paracetamol or ibuprofen can help to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains.
People suffering with flu-like symptoms should catch coughs or sneezes in tissues and bin them immediately, wash their hands regularly with soap and warm water and frequently clean regularly used surfaces to stop the spread of flu. Avoid having unnecessary contact with other people if you or they have symptoms of flu.
For further information visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu/ and #StayWellThisWinter
