Infection control

The infection control team is committed to protecting patients, staff and visitors from the risk of health care associated infections.

Health care associated infections can be acquired in hospitals, or as a result of healthcare treatments.

Examples include:

  • diarrhoea
  • vomiting
  • MRSA
  • Clostridium difficile

The team is led by the director of infection prevention and control and supported by our colleagues in the Trust. The team provides advice and support to all our staff to ensure that patients, visitors and staff are protected from acquiring infections.

Everyone has a role in reducing the spread of infection. It is important that patients, staff and visitors work together to reduce the risks and to maintain a clean and safe hospital environment.

Contact the infection control team

  • Graham Kaye, Infection Prevention and Control Team Lead
  • Liam Button, Lead Nurse for Infection Prevention and Control
  • Rebecca Winney, Infection Prevention and Control Nurse
  • Mandy May, Infection Prevention and Control Nurse
  • Sean Lewis, Infection Prevention and Control Administrator

The team are available 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Sunday.

Call 01208 25130 and ask for the infection prevention and control team. Out of hours please contact the on-call manager for advice.

Clinical advice is also available 24 hours a day from Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust's clinical microbiology team via switchboard. Outside normal hours this will be via the on-call consultant.

Hand hygiene

Hand washing is the most simple and effective way to prevent infections occurring. This is especially important in hospitals and other healthcare settings where people who are unwell may be more vulnerable to infections.

Hands pick up germs that we cannot see so although your hands might look clean, they may still have germs on them. Germs can be picked up from any surfaces we touch, including door handles, toilet seats and through contact with other people’s skin.

There are some important times when you should wash your hands, these include:

  • after visiting the toilet
  • before meals 
  • before and after any skin contact with a patient 
  • whenever your hands are visibly dirty
  • before and after using any medical equipment or devices

Patient and visitor Information

The Trust has produced a number of information leaflets relating to the prevention and control of infections.