RCN activity in England

RCN activity on infection prevention has been very diverse over the last six months. Listed below are some of the highlights and key areas of activity. This list is not exhaustive and relates to RCN England only. It does not include 'Wipe it out' activity or RCN Forum, Nursing Department or internal RCN commitments.

Presentations and attendance at stakeholder events

A key element to the role of nurse adviser is to raise the profile of the Royal College of Nursing with stakeholder groups and members. This role can be undertaken in a number of ways such as through presentations, chairing events and attendance at meetings. During the period April to October 2010, presentations or attendance has been undertaken with a diverse audience including:

• NPSA World hand hygiene day meeting (May 2010)
• Presentation at Darlington Showcase Hospitals conference (May 2010)
• Presentation at the Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI) conference (May 2010)
• Presentation at the Société Française d'Hygiène Hospitalière et qualité des soins (SFHH), French national conference, June 2010
• Presentation at the National Patient Safety Forum (June 2010)
• Presentation at Lewisham Showcase Hospital conference (July 2010)
• Link nurse study day – West Middlesex Hospital (September 2010)
• Presentation at the Italian National Nurses Association for Infection Control (ANIPIO), October 2010
• Attendance at Patients Association round-table event (October 2010).

Consultation responses

The RCN contributes to a large number of consultations issued from stakeholder groups or organisations. Responding to consultations allows the RCN to voice its professional opinion and allows members to highlight issues that affect nurses, nursing or patient care. Responses to a number of consultations have been submitted with support from members of the Infection Prevention and Control Network. These include:

• The Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of practice for health care,  including primary care, and adult social care on the prevention and control of  infections and related guidance
• White paper – ‘Equality and Excellence, Liberating the NHS’
• White paper – ‘Transparency in outcomes’
• HTM 07-01 Safe management of health care waste

Provision of professional advice

The RCN works closely with the Department of Health in England and has been involved in a number of stakeholder or expert reference group meetings to discuss DH policy on HCAIs. The RCN has attended a number of meetings including:

• NPSA hand hygiene expert reference panel
• Hepatitis C campaign stakeholder meetings
• DH essential steps and saving lives refresh workshop

Pandemic influenza

Activity has continued and the RCN has contributed to a DH debrief consultation on the pandemic. The RCN continues to be involved despite the pandemic officially ending as work continues to learn from the lessons of recent events and future planning.