Reducing healthcare associated infections is a high priority across the NHS. A new initiative to be introduced in the East Riding of Yorkshire, aims to reduce rates of Clostridium difficile (C-diff), by protecting patients at risk of contracting the potentially life threatening infection.
The C-diff Card is being introduced by NHS East Riding of Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) working with City Health Care Partnership (CHCP CIC). It will be launched on 3 December 2013 at 1 pm at an event involving NHS and East Riding care home staff in Beverley.
The Card will be issued to patients who test positive for C-diff either in hospital or at their GP surgery. The card is designed to alert healthcare professionals in the community to their condition, to help them make better informed decisions when prescribing antibiotics or drugs that treat diarrhoea, which reduces risk of re-occurrence of the infection.
A number of launch events involving all stakeholders (GP practices, dentists, pharmacists, care homes) have taken place over the past two months to promote the use of the Card.
Carrying the C-diff card is voluntary and it is supported by personal contact from the CHCP Community Infection Prevention & Control Team. It is hoped that, in addition to reducing infection rates, the C-diff Card will help local patients to take a more active role in decisions around their own care.
Dr. Gina Palumbo, local GP and Chair of NHS East Riding of Yorkshire CCG, said;
“The C-diff Card is a very welcome initiative that supports us as local clinicians to make decisions with our patients about their on-going health care. We hope it will make real difference to reducing the risks associated with C.diff in our area.”
