SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands - WHO's global annual campaign
5th May 2012
It's the World Health Organisation's Clean Your Hands Save Lives global campaign day. If you are visiting your local hospital, GP surgery or other care facility encourage the staff to join in by getting them to visit WHO's website with the campaign materials and details of their online webinar at http://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/en/
Visit our handwashing page, these are the standards we all expect as patients and carers, in all healthcare settings
http://mrsaactionuk.net/handwashing.html
Department of Health Workshop
Patient-Led Inspections of the Hospital Environment
20th April 2012
The Government is committed to a more central role for patients and the Prime Minister has announced that a new system of Patient-Led Inspections will replace Patient Environment Action Teams from 2013. The results of the new inspections will be reported publicly to help drive up standards of care.
This is an important development that we hope will provide public assurance and protection, to help restore public trust and confidence in the action being taken to prevent and control healthcare associated infections, in what should be a caring environment.
We believe a clean environment is important but should not be looked at in isolation. Staff attitudes and behaviours need to be considered. Targeted cleaning where high impact interventions could make a significant difference to the safety of the patients' environment should be undertaken. ATP testing using swabs of high touch areas, should be requested, before and after cleaning, you can't see bacteria or spores that may be harmful for the vulnerable patient.
The halo effect will be present during inspections and as such there should be some consideration given to remote video auditing, you can observe staff behaviour and cameras need not be focused on patients, but you would see evidence of hand hygiene practice and the way staff clean an area, this is very effective and is being used in UK and US hospitals. We are asking for the opportunity to feed into the final guidance that comes from this exercise as this should be about real involvement, and prevention of infections should be high priority in giving safe care.
Andrea Jenkyns represented MRSA Action UK at the workshop which included members of the Department of Health's Patient Environment Team and representatives from the Health and Social Care information Centre.
ATP testing being used at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
On Sunday 15 April 2012 Jules achieved a fantastic 4 hour 26 minute finish
in the Brighton Marathon for MRSA Action UK
The Brighton Marathon had over 18,000 runners this year, and many charities were supported by the fantastic efforts of those taking part. For Julia Owen, aka Jules, this was a personal triumph as she completed the marathon in just 4 hours 26 minutes.
This is Jules's fourth race of the year, and race number fourteen for MRSA Action UK. Her husband Steve was cheering her on. It was perfect conditions for marathon running. Jules's phenomenal finish time left her delighted. She said "I'm so chuffed with the time".
We are chuffed too Jules, it's a fantastic achievement!
If Jules and Steve are running at a venue near you then please go and cheer them on, if you can't make it then leave a message on their Just Giving page. To follow Jules and Steve's progress and see how they are doing with their challenge visit their webpage at http://mrsaactionuk.net/julesnsteve.html
EAST AND NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE NHS TRUST
On 17th May 2012 the Trust will hold it's annual Infection Control study day for 90-100 nurses,
MRSA Action UK will be attending.
MRSA Action UK will be attending The Royal Liverpool University Hospital
on 28th May 2012 giving a presentation on the patient perspective at the link nurse infection prevention study day.
We will also attend the Trust's Award Event at the BT Arena on Friday 8th June 2012, recognising quality, innovation and teamwork.
Jules and Steve Owen, racing for MRSA Action UK
In The Southend Half Marathon
10.00am Sunday 10 June 2012
The Southend Half Marathon is a well established race and has attracted several hundred participants.
Edwina Currie, Patron MRSA Action UK, will speak at Gov Today's Conference: Reducing Infections, Improving Health Outcomes,
6th June 2012
MRSA Action UK's Annual Memorial Event at
Westminster Abbey
Will take place on Thursday 28th June 2012
We will meet at the West Gate of Westminster Abbey from 12 midday and then congregate at the Innocent Victims Memorial Stone for a service and laying of floral tributes at 1:00pm. This will be followed by a Reception with guest speakers at Westminster City Council Archive Centre from 2.00 - 5.00pm.
There will be opportunities for questions and to meet informally with guest speakers and colleagues from across healthcare and we very much look forward to meeting everyone who can attend. More....
Jules and Steve Owen, racing for MRSA Action UK
In The Great British 10k
9.35am Sunday 8 July 2012
The British 10K London Run is the UK's is staged on one of the world's greatest routes through the heart of central London. 25,000 runners fill the streets of the nation's capital and get the unique chance to run past many of the country's greatest landmarks including Big Ben, The London Eye, St Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square and Westminster Abbey. Abilities range from charity fundraisers and recreational runners right through to Olympic champions!
The 2012 event is staged just 19 days before the start of the Olympic Games and the excitement and buzz within London at this time should make for a truly special occasion and the best British 10k London Run in its 12 year history. This is a fantastic prelude for Jules and Steve, especially with Jules' GamesMaker role in the Olympics. To follow Jules and Steve's progress visit their webpage at
http://mrsaactionuk.net/julesnsteve.html
MRSA Action UK will attend Infection Prevention 2012 in Liverpool, courtesy of sponsors Molnlycke Healthcare, 1st to 3rd October 2012
Jules and Steve Owen, racing for MRSA Action UK
In The Great South Run, Southsea, Portsmouth
10.00am Sunday 28 October 2012
The Great South Run is Europe's most popular 10 mile race and started life in Southampton back in 1990 before moving just a few miles along the M27 motorway to the neighbouring city of Portsmouth 12 months later. World cross country champion Joseph Ebuya produced the fastest 10-mile run ever seen in the UK in the 2010 event, so Jules and Steve are following in the footsteps of champions. To follow our champions' progress visit their webpage at http://mrsaactionuk.net/julesnsteve.html
Adrian Darbyshire, who lost his very close friend Troy Eames in November 2002 to MRSA, is fundraising for MRSA Action UK in his memory. Every year Adrian attends a memorial event where close friends and family meet to celebrate Troy'slife. This year is the 9th year and Adrian wanted to announce a fund raising event that he plans doing in his honour to end next year on November 7th to raise money for our charity. This will mark the 10 year anniversary of his passing.
When Troy originally passed away Adrian gave up drinking alcohol for 6 months, raising almost 1,500 pounds which went towards Troy's grave stone, this time around he plans to do it for a whole year.
This will be challenging enough but it is something he wants to do in his memory and at the same time raise money for a cause that he has strong feelings about.
Troy Eames was only 23 when he went to hospital for treatment for an in-growing toenail. Sadly after picking up the MRSA infection he suffered kidney failure and a heart attack.
Troy Eames, who passed away on the 7th November 2002
To support Adrian you can visit his Justgiving page at:
http://www.justgiving.com/AD-Noboozeforayear
MRSA Action UK has joined JustGiving
If you think you can help then please get in touch to talk about getting involved, you may like to help with fundraising and raising awareness. You can do this by donating through Just Giving securely or by creating your own fundraising page or a page in memory of someone.
Just ten pounds could help to support people affected by MRSA or other infections by helping with advice and understanding from others who have been affected. It could also help to provide patient information leaflets, posters to raise awareness on how to prevent infections, leaflets and training materials for seminars, workshops and education events.
If you or someone you care about has been affected by a healthcare infection and you wish to discuss this with us, please contact us at info@mrsaactionuk.net
