Clean, safe care: Reducing infections and saving lives

This document draws together recent initiatives to tackle healthcare associated infections and improve cleanliness and details new areas where the NHS should consider investing to ensure that patients receive clean and safe treatment whenever and wherever they are treated by the NHS. The content includes sections on: - - Introduction which outlines the context and surveillance data behind HCAI and some further areas that NHS organisations need to consider when developing local plans to tackle infections and improve cleanliness. - An overview of healthcare associated infections - Reducing infection along the patient journey - The part that all staff have to play - A clean environment - Innovations - Ensuring progress The document is written with patients, public and staff in mind. It should give patients an idea of what to expect when they come in contact with the NHS, the public an understanding of what the Government and the NHS are doing to tackle HCAIs, and staff information on their and their organisations’ obligations and responsibilities in relation to infections and cleanliness.