Bristol, UK - The Importance of Good Infection Control in Nursing Homes

The UK has suffered badly from coronavirus, with a mortality rate now equal to the cumulative total per million population in Italy, and over 5 times that in Germany.  Whilst the virus can prove widely life-threatening, the group most vulnerable is the elderly with underlying health conditions, many of whom need professional nursing care, and live in care homes. Care homes then become vulnerable to the virus, requiring a rigorous management response.

There is, however, a ‘location fallacy’. Press and TV reports on the impact of the virus on care homes, almost suggest that they are not safe places for the elderly to live, or for people to work. However, this is like stating that in normal times, hospitals are dangerous places to be. It’s not the location which leads to vulnerability but each person’s age and health condition. People who are most vulnerable to coronavirus tend to live in care homes and it’s not because they live in care homes that they are vulnerable. 

This means that even more than ever cleanliness and infection control measures and processes are vitally important.

How Bristol Care Homes are Keeping Residents, Staff and Families Safe 

As always we are working closely with the CQC (the Care Quality Commission) who are sharing their findings of COVID19 in care and nursing homes with local authorities across the UK so all information can be combined and reviewed. The information and trends are being used to understand the impact of the coronavirus pandemic within care settings and advice distributed, including, best practices for protecting residents and preventing the spread of COVID19.

Keeping everyone safe has always been one of our highest priorities for Bristol Care Homes and safety applies to our residents, their families and friends, and our staff equally.

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At Bristol Care Homes we are following the government guidelines set out in regards to caring for our residents, families and staff and infection control. This will not result in a zero-risk environment within our homes but it will dramatically minimise the risks that the COVID19 disease can present.

Our number one aim at this time is that our residents are not under any greater risk, and where possible lower risk, compared to either living at home, if they were in hospital or any other care facility and that we continue to provide the best, most professional and caring environment for them.

Our objectives are:

- our residents are protected from infection

- any residents who do suffer an infection have the maximum likelihood of a swift recovery

Our detailed, strict and lengthy infection control procedures include every aspect of our home’s environment and services, from caring for our residents physically and mentally, to their medical needs, cleaning, catering and the use of PPE equipment.

Our infection control procedures are taken seriously within every one of our homes and they are vigorously checked regularly to ensure they are being carried as they should be and without compromise.

You can find out more details here: www.bristolcarehomes.co.uk/importance-of-good-infection-control-in-nursing-homes/