National Infection Control Rating corrected

Derriford Hospital has had its infection control rating changed to blue, after officials recognised that the red rating previously given earlier this week was wrong.

On Tuesday (24 June), data was published on the NHS Choices website, which rated Derriford Hospital as red or poor for infection prevention and control.

Staff at the hospital raised questions and an analysis of the data that lies behind this indicator showed that the red rating was wrong.

All the underlying data was correct but this had been put together incorrectly to give the wrong overall rating. This was raised nationally and the correct rating has now been applied – blue, which means the infection and cleanliness results at Derriford are within the expected range.

Dr Peter Jenks, Director of Infection Prevention and Control, said: “We couldn’t understand why we had been rated as amongst the worst in the country for infection control and prevention.

“We have some of the lowest rates of any large teaching hospital. We have had zero preventable cases of infections in this financial year (since April) and we have had no MRSA infections at all since December 2013.

“We have won a national patient safety award for our infection control work and have published significant academic evidence in international journals on the control of healthcare associated infections. We are regularly visited by staff from other Trusts looking to emulate our best practice and our staff have worked very hard to become leaders in infection control.

“The red rating was inaccurate, unfair and worrying for patients coming into hospital, who have no reason to be worried about infection control. We are leaders in this area and we have not had any preventable infections in this financial year. That is something we have worked hard to achieve and are proud of because it means better, safer care for our patients.

“We now have a blue rating which reflects our true status and we want patients and their families to know that this is not an area to be concerned about.”

Carol Williams, Director of Nursing for NHS England’s Area Team for Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, said: “It’s good to see Plymouth Hospitals recognised as being at the expected level for the prevention and control of infections. This is a new system across the country, so it might take a little time before we are absolutely confident that the data is fully robust and consistent for the whole NHS.”