Quantum Care, a Hertfordshire-based care group, recently adopted its own Germ-Busting campaign with the aim of reducing the amount of serious illness happening in its elderly care homes, and therefore relieving some of the pressure on acute services.

The campaign was launched to staff by way of messages on their payslips, detailing what they could do personally to reduce the amount of illness in their homes.

The next step was to implement the ‘Germ Busting Roadshows’, which involved the Support Services Team visiting every home to talk to staff about infection control and hygiene issues. In order to make sure that night staff were also included, the Germ Busters set up shop in each home early in the morning. They also targeted visitors to the home to ensure they understood what they could do to help.

In addition, Quantum Care introduced an Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) Champion in every home. The role of the IPC Champion is to have an overview of all things IPC, as well as being able to give advice and support to staff, residents and visitors. Each Champion is also invited to attend a bi-monthly meeting where they receive regular training and updates.

For the campaign to be successful, it was important for everybody within the organisation to be involved and, therefore, Quantum Care took an approach which encouraged participation not only from staff, but from residents too. A competition was held where residents designed their own Infection Control Posters and the home of the winning poster received a prize, all supported by a social media campaign where people could rate their favourite poster. The campaign has also been introduced into Quantum Care’s Day Centre Services, where clients living in the community have been given advice and support as to how they can protect themselves against becoming unwell.

So far, the campaign has seen an overall reduction in infectious illnesses in the homes, as well as a marked uptake of the flu vaccine amongst staff. This, in turn, has led to a reduction in hospital admissions for these types of illness.

Chief Executive Maria Ball said: “At Quantum Care, we see it as our duty to provide information and support to staff, residents, families and communities to help them to remain well over the winter months when these illnesses are most prevalent.”

www.quantumcare.co.uk