[Emer Ward]

Hi Natascha,

the use of water dispensers is a minefield and the general rule of thumb seems to be dont use them!!
the use of water bottle dispensers are not recommended in any healthcare facility and the use of plumbed in dispensers needs to be risk assessed.
The use of dispensers should only be where there ois no potable supply of water therefore there is no need to have any water dispensers in clinical areas where there is access to a pantry.
The problem with dispensers is when lots of different people access them (staff, patients,visitors) with varying degress of hygiene. the maintenance of these machines is complex and often no department takes responsibility for them.

I note you have bottles of squash by the dispenser. who is the dispenser for?
In WGH we removed all water dispensers in all clinical areas and only have some plumbed in dispensers for staff areas that dont have access to a potable supply.
Attached are some documents relating to the use of water dispensers that you may find useful.
regards
Emer

Attachments:

1. water-cooler-and-vending-machine-management.pdf
2. Use_of_water_coolers_in_clinical_areas.pdf
3. Provisional-Position-Paper-11-Potentially-Deficient-Features-of-the-water-system_0.pdf
4. SOP-Provision_of_Drinking_Water.pdf

[Emer Ward]

Hi,

this really has to be an national issue. it is not for a private company to unilaterally change the segregation and disposal of health care risk waste as set out by the HSE

There is the same process of treatment of waste in Northern Ireland and no such demands are in place.

the disposal of purple lidded waste steam is phenomenally more expensive that yellow bag waste and therefore the instruction to change to purple lidded bins needs to come from the HPSC/AMRIC.

Purple lidded bins are specifically for the disposal of cytoxic and pharmacutical waste and there is no menction of chemicals.

This has been brought to the attention of national bodies and unless the HSE advice changes re the disposal of such healthcare risk waste WGH will continue to follow current national guidelines.
Regards
Emer

[Emer Ward]

Hi, the IPCI omnference is the premier IP&C conference in the rep of Ireland for nurses working in and interested in IP&C in acute and non acute , public and private healthcare.

It is imperative members assist in disseminating the information regarding the conference in their locality. The conference must be financially viable and that requires delegates in addition to members.

Please download and forward the agenda and the registation details for the website to the non acute facilities both public and private in your area.

A quick Google search will get you a list of nursing homes. Nursing Homes Ireland do get the information but if members forward it to individual DON’s that will help greatly.

Thanks
Emer
Organising Committee

[Emer Ward]

Hi all,

Margaruite has attached the poster submission form to this thread.

Can all members download this poster form and send it to colleagues in any section of healthcare in their locality that may have completed a piece of work that is IP&C related in some way.

Lots of members are aware of non IP&C as well as IPC nurses that have completed projects that would be very welcome to enter our poster competition.

Regards
Emer
Organising Committee

[Emer Ward]

Hi All, just a gentle reminder of the IPCI meeting tomorrow at 12.30

Attachments:

1. Agenda-IPC-Ireland-zoom-meeting-Tuesday-01-April-2025-1.doc

[Emer Ward]

Hi, we have an option of surgical hand rub for inbetween cases.
A regular scrub at the begining of a list and then alcohol rub inbetween.

if they leave the theare for break e.g. they need to regular scrub again and then the inbetween alcohol rub

Regards

Emer

[Emer Ward]

Hi Tracy,

body bags are used routinely in WGH.

Regards

emer

[Emer Ward]

please see below the email written to the NDC

From: IPC Ireland
Sent: Tuesday 17 December 2024 17:08
To: edward.oconnell@hse.ie
Cc: IPC Ireland
Subject: NDC rationalisation of IP&C products

Dear Edward,

Infection Prevention Control Ireland are a professional body for IPC practitioners in Ireland.

It has been brought to the attention of the IPCI that the national procurement department have plans to “rationalise” the supply of products that have a direct impact of the IP&C practices and patient safety in hospitals and other healthcare institutions.

The suitability of these products for use in individual hospital should be determined by the IPCT . There are different properties in each of these products and one size does not fit all. The products in use in each hospital or healthcare institution have been chosen for a reason and not just randomly selected from a shelf.

Wipes are a classic example of differing properties and differing uses and differing quality. Some wipes contain disinfectant and detergent and some just detergent and some just disinfectant. The type of disinfectant is differs and even not all detergents are the same. It is not possible to bring these products down to just one as each hospital has policies and procedures based on the products they use. The members of the IPCI are experts in their field and as such are best placed to determine what is suitable for use and what is not.

I am unsure as to what products you are looking at “rationalising”. I am aware from other colleagues that a unilateral decision was made to change the disinfectant tablets used in hospitals which are completely different from what was in place and will have a negative impact on effective decontamination and therefore patient safety. The IPC teams are aware of the difference in products and therefore no product should be changed without the explicit agreement of the IPCT.

I have been in contact with the members of the IPCI and they are in agreement that there should be no rationalisation of any products that interfere with the IP&C guidance and practice of healthcare institutions. It is easy to make the mistake that one product is the same as another without the necessary expertise to make that judgment.

I should be grateful if you would bring this email to the attention of your team to ensure the plans to implement this strategy cease.

kind regards
Emer

Emer Ward
Chair IPCIreland

[Emer Ward]

Hi Jean,
we looked at this a few years ago. Attached is a policy I found from the UK its old but probablt still relevant.

I think the type of healthcare facility would matter, acute V LTCF or non acute

Attachments:

1. Dogs-in-Hospital.doc

[Emer Ward]

hi, I will try and attach the newlatter again

Attachments:

1. word-doc-Greetings-from-the-Board-of-IFIC-and-welcome-to-the-IFIC-Newsletter.docx

[Emer Ward]

Hi all,
for those of you who attended the conference on 3rd May as full paid up members, I have attached the certificate of attendance for you to download.

Thanks

Emer

Attachments:

1. attendance-cert-2024.doc

[Emer Ward]

this is a tough one Liam.

I agree with your advice above. Unfortunately I’m not sure how appropriate it is for patient facing staff not to be able to perform hand hygiene as per the 5 moments for the safety of patients and indeed the staff member.

Emer

[Emer Ward]

Hi,

i also think there will be a health and safety issue regarding the ventilation system and a scavanging system for the anaesthetic gases.

In WGH there was an issue with our theatres a number of years ago and we were down to one theatre. Provision was required for a catagory one C section in the event that both the OR and the anaesethic room was unavailable a new delivey room that had some ventilation had to be converted. The main issue wasnt the OR ventilation as this would only be used in an lifethreatening situation, but the H&S risks for the staff reagrding the anaesthetic gases.

the manufacturer of the anaesthetic machine came up with a tempory solution but it would not be sustainable long term.

I attach the minor procedure guidelines produced a number of years ago which we used in our OPD. Im not sure if there has been an update of these guidelines since.

Regards
Emer

Attachments:

1. guidelines_on_the_facilities_required_for_minor_surgical_procedures_and_minimal_access_interventions.pdf

[Emer Ward]

Thanks Helen,

which dpeartments are using them and is it just the 30l that you use?

[Emer Ward]

Hi Lenora,

I havent come accross them before but I suppose if they are fully decontaminatable (not a word I know but it should be!) thye should be ok. I looked some up and its hard to see how the would be filled and emptied. They may be more of a H&S risk than IP&C

keep us posed on how you get on

regards
Emer

[Author]

Posts