A patient arrives at A&E with a high fever and a cough. Just a common cold, or a serious infectious disease?

This is where our Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) team comes in. They spot infectious patients early and alert staff, so they can be isolated quickly and reduce the risk of the infection spreading to other vulnerable patients – vital in our busy A&Es and wards.

​In our A&Es, we use rapid testing machines that can check for flu or Covid-19 in just 13 minutes. Previously, staff had to wait from 24 to 48 hours for the lab results to be uploaded onto the system, however, since the launch of our electronic patient record in November, they are pinged instantly to the patient’s digital record, allowing the medical team treating them to take action much faster. 

​Dora Afolayan, a healthcare assistant in A&E at Queen’s Hospital (pictured above performing a test), says this digital link is making a huge difference on the frontline. 

Dora said: 

We aren't waiting for papers to be passed on to different teams to notify staff, now as soon as the result comes in the clinicians know about it straight away. 

This allows staff to know exactly what is happening and treatment can begin as soon as possible.

​During the winter months, infections can spread quickly because people spend more time indoors. 

This means the team is even more hands-on, coming up with clear processes so that any patient with respiratory symptoms is screened the moment they enter A&E.

The IPC team also visits wards often, making sure staff are bare below the elbows with no watches or jewellery, and that hand washing is strictly enforced to prevent germs from spreading. 

Test results from inpatients are also constantly coming through, which are reviewed by a duty nurse. 

​Kamal Sehmbey, Associate Director of IPC, said: 

For us, it’s all about staying one step ahead so every patient who walks through our doors is protected as much as possible from the moment they arrive. 

That’s how we help stop infections in their tracks.