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Infection control

  • Watch out for whooping cough rise Dr John Clark in his officeA rise in the number of cases of whooping cough (a highly contagious infection of the lungs) has prompted senior doctors at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals to ask local people to be aware of the symptoms and ensure their children's vaccinations are up-to-date. 18 April 2012
  • Local hospitals announce new lead doctor to fight infections Dr John Clark in the labEpsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals have today (4 April 2012) announced the appointment of a new top doctor to help in the fight against infections. 04 April 2012
  • Norovirus (diarrhoea and vomiting) at Epsom Hospital - update Norovirus posterOn Monday, we announced that Epsom Hospital was dealing with a number of cases of the 'winter vomiting bug', Norovirus, which puts a significant pressure on beds at the hospital. We are pleased to be able to state that the situation is now improving. 25 January 2012
  • Top nurse at Epsom Hospital asks for help to stop spread of Norovirus Epsom HospitalThe top nurse at Epsom Hospital is today (23 January 2012) asking local people for their help to combat the spread of an infectious stomach illness that can lead to diarrhoea and vomiting. The hospital is facing significant pressure as a result of Norovirus. 23 January 2012
  • Keep a lid on it - top nurse gives bathroom tip Flushing your toilet with the lid up can mean bacteria explode into your bathroom and linger in the air for up to an hour and a half.The most senior nurse at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals is advising local people to put the lid down when flushing the toilet to avoid the spread of disease. 19 January 2012
  • Fed up with winter colds and bugs? Catch it, bin it, kill it, says senior nurse If you could see flu germs, you'd see how quickly they spread.It's natural to feel a bit down in January: the party season is over, the days are short and the weather isn't great. Added to that, a number of winter germs are doing the rounds, from common coughs and colds to stomach bugs and flu. 13 January 2012
  • Please do not visit our hospitals if you have norovirus Norovirus posterDoctors at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals are asking local people not to visit the hospitals if they are suffering from winter-related viral infections in an effort to stop them spreading to patients. Top of the list is norovirus (the 'winter vomiting' bug). 22 December 2011
  • St Helier scores highly with patient inspectors Jane Ward, Head of Environmental ServicesA national survey, which sees patients and members of the public inspecting hospitals across the country, has shown that St Helier Hospital is offering local people high standards in food, the hospital environment and levels of privacy and dignity. 12 October 2011
  • Epsom Hospital scores highly with patient inspectors A cleaner on the wardsA national survey, which sees patients and members of the public inspecting hospitals across the country, has shown that Epsom Hospital is offering local people high standards in food, the hospital environment and levels of privacy and dignity. 12 October 2011
  • Don't take chances over E.coli outbreak, urges senior doctor Prevent the spread of infection by washing all uncooked fruit and vegetables before eating.The recent E.coli outbreak in northern Germany has prompted the most senior microbiologist at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals to issue words of advice to local people. 03 June 2011
  • 'Put a full stop to measles spots' says senior doctor Dr Chloe JohnstonA specialist doctor from the children's A&E department at St Helier Hospital is calling for all local parents to have their children vaccinated against measles. Following reports of measles outbreaks in Europe earlier this week, experts across the country have been encouraging parents to have their children vaccinated before going on holiday. 15 April 2011
  • Better hand hygiene - nothing to sneeze at! Individual washing handsThe infection control and prevention team at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals is reminding local people about the importance of regular hand washing to stay healthy. Cold weather is often seen as the prime time for infectious illnesses, but although winter is on its way out, the threat posed by viruses and other bugs is not. 25 February 2011
  • Local hospitals continue drive to be more open on infections Samantha Jones, Chief ExecutiveIn June, the Trust launched a scheme to give patients, visitors and local people more information than ever before about healthcare acquired infection rates at its hospitals. Now, having published weekly information about the number of cases of MRSA (bacteraemia) and Clostridium difficile infections at Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals for four months, the Trust is adding another infection to the list. 05 November 2010
  • Hospitals' top nurse backs Global Handwashing Day Pippa Hart, Director of Nursing Standards and Quality AssuranceThe most senior nurse at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals is backing the Global Handwashing Day tomorrow (Friday 15 October) and calling on local people to remember the role they have to play in helping to reduce the spread of infections. Starting in 2008, Global Handwashing Day reinforces the importance of good hand hygiene, and focuses on the need for people to wash their hands with soap throughout the day. 14 October 2010
  • Hospital experts warn of 'winter vomiting bug' return View of Epsom HospitalDoctors at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals are encouraging people to prepare for the return of the 'winter vomiting' bug, norovirus. 01 October 2010
  • Hospital experts offer advice to travellers returning from Pakistan St Helier Hospital with familyInfection control and prevention experts at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals are preparing for the possibility of treating local people who have recently returned from flood-hit Pakistan. Heavy monsoon rains have caused serious flooding in many areas of the country, with over a thousand people reported killed and millions homeless. 25 August 2010
  • Trust launches drive to be even more open about infections Hand washingEpsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust is launching a new scheme to give patients, visitors and local people more information than ever before about healthcare acquired infection rates at its hospitals. The Trust, which sees hundreds of thousands of patients every year, will today (28 June) start to publish weekly information about the number of cases of MRSA (bacteraemia) and C. difficile at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals. 28 June 2010
  • C. difficile cases continue to fall at Trust Chris Grayling, MP for Epsom and Ewell opening our new virology lab, which is used by the infection control team. On the right of the photo are consultant microbiologists, Dr Sharon Chambers and Dr Justin Bendig.The number of cases of C. difficile has fallen again at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, according to the latest figures from the Health Protection Agency. The data shows that between September and November 2009, there were 17 cases across the Trust's hospitals, compared to 29 during the same period in 2008 - a drop of 41 per cent. 28 January 2010
  • 'Winter vomiting' bug hits hospitals Norovirus posterDoctors at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals are asking local people not to visit the hospitals if they are suffering from winter-related viral infections in an effort to stop them spreading to patients. Top of the list is norovirus (the 'winter vomiting' bug). 14 January 2010
  • Trust passes watchdog's unannounced inspection Hands at soap dispenserEpsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust has been declared fully compliant with the Care Quality Commission's 'Hygiene Code' following an unannounced inspection on 5 November. The code, part of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, lays down the law in setting out the actions NHS trusts must take to ensure patients are cared for in a clean environment, where the risks of healthcare acquired infections, like MRSA and C. difficile, are kept as low as possible. 18 November 2009
  • Hospitals continue to win the battle against healthcare acquired infections Hand washingNew figures published on Wednesday (4 November) show that cases of MRSA bacteraemia and C. difficile at Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals are still falling. The latest data, published by the Health Protection Agency, shows that the Trust had three MRSA bacteraemia cases in September, bringing the total number from April to September to 16: an improvement on the same period in 2008, when that figure was 19. 09 November 2009
  • Hospitals appoint directors to lead swine flu preparations Julie SobratteeLike NHS organisations across the UK, Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals are getting ready for a possible 'surge' in patients suffering from swine flu this autumn. Initially, the Department of Health predicted an increase in the number of people getting swine flu in October, several weeks after schools had re-opened after the summer holidays. 02 October 2009
  • Number of C. difficile cases cut by 20 per cent Peter ColesThe number of cases of C. difficile at Sutton, Epsom and St Helier hospitals has dropped by more than 20 per cent, according to the latest figures from the Health Protection Agency. The new figures show that between April to June 2009, 67 patients were found to have the infection, which is also known as Clostridium difficile. This is an improvement on the figure for the same period in 2008, when there were 85 cases - a drop of more than a fifth. 18 September 2009
  • Cases of MRSA continue to fall at hospitals Samantha Jones and Dr Jonathan Kwan at the launch of the new infection control campaignNew figures show that the number of MRSA cases at Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals are still falling. The latest data, published on Thursday (9 September 2009) by the Health Protection Agency, show that the Trust had eight cases of MRSA (bacteraemia) from April to June of this year. This is an improvement on the same period last year, when there were 11. 15 September 2009
  • Clostridium difficile cases continue to fall at hospitals The number of patients being infected by Clostridium difficile (also known as C. difficile) at Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals continued to fall during the first part of this year, according to new figures published by the Health Protection Agency. 08 July 2009
  • Hospitals record lowest MRSA figures since records began Infection control poster Samantha JonesNew figures released by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show that the number of cases of MRSA (bacteraemia) at the Trust's three hospitals during 2008/09 are the lowest since records began. The new data also shows the Trust recorded six cases of MRSA between January and March 2009, compared with nine the previous quarter. 02 July 2009
  • Annual Clostridium difficile numbers cut by 40% Hand washingThe number of patients being infected with Clostridium difficile (also known as C. difficile) at Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals dropped by almost 40 per cent last year according to new data published this week. 17 April 2009
  • Annual MRSA rates cut by a third Staff poster - Infection control 2New figures released by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show that the number of cases of MRSA (bacteraemia) at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals fell by a third last year. 23 March 2009
  • £240,000 state-of-the-art isolation room keeps infections at bay Neutral Pressure RoomA state-of-the-art neutral pressure room which allows patients with severe chest diseases such as tuberculosis to be isolated from others has been unveiled at Epsom Hospital. 13 March 2009
  • Trust launches new campaign in fight against infections Samantha Jones and Dr Jonathan Kwan at the launch of the new infection control campaignEpsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust has unveiled a new awareness campaign to help in its fight against healthcare acquired infections. 03 March 2009
  • Local people asked to help stop the spread of winter bugs Norovirus posterDoctors and nurses at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals are asking local people not to visit if they are suffering from winter-related viral infections in an effort to stop them spreading to patients. Top of the list of bugs are Norovirus (winter vomiting) and Influenza (flu). 15 January 2009
  • Cases of C. difficile cut by nearly 50% Data released today by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) shows that the number of cases of C. difficile at the Trust was 26 between July and September 2008, compared to 47 during the previous quarter (April to June 2008). 15 January 2009
  • Cases of MRSA bacteraemia cut by almost two-thirds Figures released by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) revealed that the number of cases of MRSA bacteraemia at the Trust fell to seven between July and September 2008. This compares to a total of 10 cases for the previous quarter (April - June) and a reduction of 63% to the same quarter the previous year. 15 January 2009
  • Figures show C. difficile cut by a third New figures released show that cases of C. difficile have been reduced by almost a third at Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals. 01 December 2008
  • Figures show MRSA rates cut in half New figures released today by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show a drop in the number of cases of MRSA at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals. 04 December 2008
  • Latest figures show MRSA and C Difficile fall at Epsom and St Helier New figures released on April 24 by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) demonstrate how Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust is reducing the incidence of healthcare acquired infections, including MRSA and C difficile, in its hospitals. 05 December 2008
  • Deep Clean is complete at Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Deep clean teamThe biggest ever total deep clean of wards and clinical areas at Epsom and St Helier Hospitals is complete. Since the end of December, every ward at both sites has undergone a thorough clean as part of a national campaign by the Department of Health. 05 December 2008

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