Surgical site surveillance
The team includes SSI surveillance nurse with support from an advanced nurse practitioner (ANP)
- Looking at infection rates and prevention;
- submitting data to UKHSA;
- education;
- dissemination of data at clinical governance;
- working alongside the discharge teams in view of preventing patient from the 30 days readmission pathway;
- leadership;
- research;
- 6/52 follow up for hips and knees replacement; and
- metal on metal surveillance.
- SSI surveillance was set up in 2012;
- mandatory for hip, knee and spinal as participating hospital;
- ANP has been in post since 2021 following the completion of the MSC ACP course.
- Wards;
- PACU;
- Theatre;
- Outpatients;
- Preassessment;
- physiotherapy department;
- research;
- surgeons;
- anaesthetists; and
- microbiologists.
Work is undertaken on the ward and in outpatients.
- Bluespiers;
- ICM;
- IPM;
- Lifebox;
- remote access to partnership hospital.
Time pressure and sickness absence.
- Ensuring appropriate workload;
- improving communication.
Having to visit partnership hospitals to obtain SSI information. Remote access to the information resolves this issue.
- How to tackle communication issues;
- poor teamwork;
- how to plan workload;
- understand the team dynamics; and
- how to monitor progress and changes.
- Know your staff as an individual;
- develop good communication pathways;
- address problems as soon as possible;
- apply good leadership approach;
- girth; and
- create a wound clinic.
- Day zero pathways;
- discharge early; and
- enhanced recovery.
- Recovery module – time consuming.
Every service forms a unique element of the centre; please tell us about aspects of your groups work that has not been covered by the questions that you have already answered.
A happy working environment leads to success.
Staff
Around 15-20 hours per week is spent on SSI activities:
- post discharge advice;
- wound care;
- liaising with commissioners and primary care;
- communication between GPs; and
- prescribing medications/ safe dispensing of medication.