Hi Tracy
We use long sleeved gowns with COVID high contact care, CPE & following a risk assessment in other situations if contamination of body fluids on forearms is anticipated.
The problem we have is where you locate the long sleeved gowns. 

Alison do you have a PPE holder that holds gowns, gloves & aprons or do you place a trolley outside t…[Read more]

Dear All,

I agree with Alison & Tracy’s position on this. Hospitals  are trying to minimise movement into each facility & between internal departments, patients are unable to see their families, staff  are enduring difficult restrictions which impact their working day… not able to use canteens, not able to mix with staff from other depa…[Read more]

Good Morning All

I am very much thinking along the same lines as Alison, I think its madness when we are trying to reduce agency movement, working so hard to reduce the risk for students and we are now going to let outside personal in to do an audit which as Alison said the majority of which could be done virtually. I presented my thoughts to…[Read more]

The guideline has the document required

Good morning Alison
Is the purpose of the HIQA visit to inspect compliance with COVID measures?
Is there a documentation that you can attach here?
Hospitals already had to submit information to HSA regarding this – PPE, training etc. so there appears to be double jobbing.
I would be interested on people views also.
 
Kind regards
 
Lenora
Chair IPCIreland 

Lenora
Regarding the HIQA assessments which I understand have already started, I am concerned that HIQA are undertaking these in person.
With the increasing numbers throughout the country and specifically in Dublin I am concerned about assessors moving from one site to another. Visitors have been stopped in the majority of hospital so why are HIQA…[Read more]

Hello Tracy
You’ll have to forgive me but can you explain the new HIQA targeted monitoring program.  I feel there is so much documentation lately that I am finding it hard to keep up.
Kind regards

Lenora

Chair IPCIreland 

Hi Maureen

We only treat bronchoscopy procedures as AGP and take additional precautions.

We are fortunate that we have four new endoscopy suites with good space and 15 air changes per hour so this helps with staff anxieties.

In relation to testing we only complete a COVID Swab test on patients having a bronchoscopy.  We do complete a COVID…[Read more]

Just wondering if anyone uses Acetic Acid in their facility for drains.  If yes could you drop me a line to discuss.

Many thanks

Regards

Lenora

Chair IPCIreland

Working now Emer.

Best of luck filling this role.

Regards

Lenora

Chair IPCIreland

Hello Emer

We are doing the same. Do you have 2 metres between your beds?

While most of our rooms are single we do have some double and triple rooms that share one bathroom.  Key note is Risk Assessment.  All our patients have a COVID Assessment Questionnaire completed, all patients having GAs have the COVID Swab Test 2-5 days before admission a…[Read more]