Scottish Government

Health Boards

NHS Boards are at the front line of infection control. They oversee hospital and community healthcare services and co-ordinate infection prevention and control activities at local level to prevent the incidence of infection within the local healthcare setting.

Health Protection Scotland

Health Protection Scotland (HPS), which is part of NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), has the remit to strengthen and support activities aimed at protecting all the people of Scotland from infectious and environmental hazards. In the context of infection control their primary role is to provide robust scientific guidance on best practice in this area and to co-ordinate national surveillance systems of key organisms such as Clostridium difficile and MRSA.

Health Facilities Scotland

Health Facilities Scotland (HFS), which is part of NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), has the remit to develop policy, standards and guidance relating to the NHS estate. In relation to HAI, they lead on the National Cleanliness Specification, which ensures all Boards are achieving nationally defined standards of cleanliness. In addition HFS also explore new cleaning technologies, develop the skills of domestic services staff and ensure that the physical build environment is optimised to reduce the risk of infection.

NHS Quality Improvement Scotland

The NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) remit is to work with NHS Boards to improve the quality of care received by patients in Scotland. For healthcare associated infections, this involves working closely with Boards to examine current practice in infection prevention and control and identify areas in which it can be improved based on international best practice. NHS QIS are also responsible for the publication of the national Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Standards, which all Boards are required to comply with.

Scottish Patient Safety Alliance

The Scottish Patient Safety Programme aims to steadily improve the safety of hospital care right across the country. It covers a wide range of work relating to patient safety, with five key aims in particular targeted at reducing HAIs:

• Prevent central line infections
• Prevent surgical site infections
• Prevent ventilator associated pneumonia
• Prevent pressure ulcers
• Reduce staphylococcus aureus (MRSA plus MSSA) infection

Healthcare Environment Inspectorate

The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) was set up by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing with a remit to ensure NHS QIS Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) standards are being applied in all acute hospitals and that any shortfalls or issues are being tackled. The HEI is independent of NHS Boards and reports directly to Scottish Government and Ministers. It carries out both planned and unannounced inspections of hospitals and for administrative purposes is based within NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.