Health Minister, Jane Kennedy, has launched new legislative proposals for action on Health Care Associated Infections (HCAIs) In England, to form part of the Health Improvement and Protection Bill.
New hygiene code of practice proposed
The four key components of the HCAI legislation are:
· A new code of practice.
· A new duty on NHS bodies providing healthcare to follow the code with a parallel duty on the Healthcare Commission (HC) to assess compliance with it.
· A new discretionary power available to the HC to issue an improvement notice.
· Directions for improvement or sanctions which may be taken against those who, in the view of the Secretary Of State or Monitor, continue significantly to breach the code.
Relevant elements of the code will be reflected in regulatory arrangements under the Care Standards Act 2000 so that private healthcare establishments and care homes are also subject to enhanced standards on infection control.
Jane Kennedy said: “Many NHS trusts have already made real improvements on hygiene and infection control. We want to make good infection control and hygiene practice a statutory duty for the NHS, with a detailed code of practice setting out the actions all healthcare organisations must implement.”
