Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Nosocomial Covid-19 Review: Investigating and Learning from Cases of Hospital Acquired Covid-19
The NHS in Wales has worked incredibly hard throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to do all it can to keep the virus out of hospitals and to protect people being cared for, often in very difficult circumstances.
Rigorous infection control procedures have been in place in all NHS settings, including hospitals; free PPE has been available to all NHS and social care services throughout the pandemic; guidance has been issued and regularly updated about social distancing, bed spacing, staff and patient testing and mask wearing and multiple checks have been undertaken by Health Boards, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and the Health and Safety Executive.
Despite this huge effort and all these measures being in place, Covid-19 infections have been acquired in hospitals. These hospital-acquired infections are called nosocomial infections.
Where a nosocomial infection causes harm, it is important that NHS Wales is open and that the Health Board undertakes an investigation to determine what has happened, what can be learned and what needs to happen next to minimise the likelihood of the incident happening to anyone else.
NHS Wales has developed and published a unique National Framework in relation to patient safety incidents of hospital acquired Covid-19. The framework sets out the action Health Boards should take in response to cases of hospital-acquired Covid-19 in relation to incident reporting, investigation and associated communications.
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Covid Investigation Team will undertake this programme of work using a systematic approach in line with the national framework.
Contact Point
A dedicated Covid contact centre is available to provide guidance and support. You can contact the team on 0300 373 0652 or by emailing: abb.covidinvestigationteam@wales.nhs.uk
Help and Assistance
If you require independent advice, then advocacy and support services are available to you through your local Community Health Council.