Covid-19 transmission in hospitals: management of the risk - a prospective safety investigation

From the investigation: Covid-19 transmission in hospitals: management of the risk - a prospective safety investigation

Recommendation date:

Safety recommendation

It is recommended that the Department of Health and Social Care, working with NHS England and NHS Improvement, Public Health England, and other partners as appropriate, develops a transparent process to co-ordinate the development, dissemination and implementation of national guidance across the healthcare system to minimise the risk of nosocomial transmission of COVID-19.

It is recommended that the Department of Health and Social Care reviews and identifies the mechanisms which enabled regional and local organisations to adapt and respond with agility during the pandemic. This should inform the development of a strategic approach to national leadership models at times of crisis and under normal conditions.

Response:

Thank you for sharing the report with the Department of Health and Social Care. The Department accepts the recommendation made in the report and will work with partners to develop a transparent process to support and implement guidance across the healthcare system to minimise the risk of nosocomial transmission of COVID-19.

The recommendation will give us the opportunity to build on existing plans and activities, for example, the publication of the national Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) guidance available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-infection-prevention-and-control

This process will benefit from enhanced, proactive professional stakeholder engagement to support both content and ensure the avoidance of concerns raised following publication. Where there is an absence of evidence of a structured engagement process, we will support consensus and allow guidance development or implementation challenges to be raised proactively.

Actions:

  1. We will continue to work with partners to agree roles and responsibilities with NHSE/I, PHE and other system partners for IPC guidance development (or review) at a national and system level.
  2. We will work with partners to agree a clear process and timescales for development (or review) of IPC guidance.
  3. We will give supportive recommendations to enable effective engagement and communication between system partners, if appropriate.
  4. We will encourage contributions to IPC guidance development (or review) from partners across the system.

Timeline: February – May 2021.

Response received on 25 January 2021.

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