Infection control
Enhanced infection prevention measures introduced at STSFT ahead of winter
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT), have introduced enhanced infection prevention and control measures to help protect vulnerable patients, support their staff and keep services running smoothly throughout the winter months.
From 22 October, staff across the STSFT hospitals and community facilities are wearing face masks. They're also encouraging patients, visitors, carers and partner colleagues to wear a face mask when visiting their sites and to clean their hands when entering and leaving their buildings.
This applies to the following sites:
- South Tyneside District Hospital
- Sunderland Royal Hospital
- Sunderland Specialist Eye Hospital
- Durham Treatment Centre
- Houghton Intermediate Care Assessment and Rehabilitation (ICAR)
- St Benedict's Hospice
- Palmer Community Hospital
- Sunderland Children's Centre
The enhanced measures also apply to community teams visiting patients in their homes, care homes and other settings.
They've taken this step after seeing an 80% rise in the number of people in hospital with respiratory illness over the course of a week. Winter viruses circulating in our communities have also had an impact on NHS staff.
Similar measures introduced last winter were effective in helping reduce the spread of infection and support service delivery.
By acting early, they're aiming to reduce the spread of infection and help ensure safe care for those most at risk of becoming seriously unwell, including older people, people living with long-term health conditions and those with weakened immune systems.
Alongside mask-wearing, they've relaunched their Clean Hands campaign to remind everyone that small actions can make a big difference. They're encouraging staff, patients and visitors to clean their hands regularly, follow good cough and sneeze etiquette, keep up to date with any flu and winter vaccinations they're eligible for, and avoid visiting healthcare settings when they're unwell.
They'll continue to monitor respiratory illness levels closely and keep their infection prevention and control measures under regular review throughout the winter.
Over the coming weeks, they'll promote these messages through their communications channels, across their sites, and through local media to raise awareness and encourage everyone to play their part in preventing the spread of infection.
