On 20 July, a group of staff led by Director of Nursing & Quality and Director of Infection Prevention and Control Sally Brittain, participated in a virtual meeting with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), as part of their monitoring of NHS Trusts, focusing on infection prevention and control during the COVID pandemic.
An evidence file of documentation was submitted in advance including the Infection Prevention & Control Board Assurance Framework and the conversation ranged from the internal structures in place to manage infection prevention and control, to the Trust’s visitor arrangements, cleaning regimes and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Sally Brittain, said “Infection prevention and control has been a top priority for us during the pandemic and continues to be a priority as we bring patients back to services. I am delighted that Kingston Hospital met all 11 assessment areas and there were no recommendations or suggested areas of improvement in the CQC’s narrative. We received particular praise for our supportive and holistic approach to staff health and wellbeing during and after the pandemic and the way we have continued to provide care and treatment to cancer patients in recent months. The CQC noted our efforts to continue our childhood immunisation programmes, and the home birth service during the pandemic. The steps that we have taken to support and communicate with relatives of patients in our care at this time, was also recognised in the assessment. Thank you to all our staff for demonstrating commitment to keeping all our patients and each other safe.”
