Mrs Jacqui Deaves1
1Islhd, Australia
Biography:
Jacqui Deaves is an experienced healthcare professional with 20 years of nursing practice. As an Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Nurse Consultant for the past two years, she is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of patient care and safety, while fostering collaboration and continuous improvement in healthcare settings.
Abstract:
Introduction
An aged small rural 30-bed hospital on the south coast of NSW, with an increase in population over holiday periods. The hospital includes an emergency department, general medical ward, and outpatient services.
Issue Identified
The hospital reported the highest amount of respiratory illness transmissions comparative to other sites in the district. Contributing factors: small workforce, limited executive presence, and reliance on agency staff. Minimal onsite guidance and support from Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) practitioner and infectious diseases. Other challenges included delayed pathology testing, multibed rooms with no doors and shared bathrooms, and a Health and Security Assistant model that did not prioritize cleaning. Staff compliance with hand hygiene and PPE usage was also poor.
Actions
An IPAC practitioner conducted a comprehensive analysis and developed a detailed action plan with clear timelines and responsibilities. Key actions included increasing IPC visibility to executives and the Nurse Unit Manager, updating plans for relevant committees, and delivering targeted staff education.
Results
These actions helped to bridge knowledge gaps, stronger staff engagement, increased executive support for strategic planning, increased accountability, and a more robust safety and quality culture. Hand hygiene auditing improved, and the cleaning model was reviewed for possible enhancements.
Conclusion
Although significant progress was made, ongoing challenges include ageing infrastructure, staff shortages, and workflow inefficiencies. Sustained improvement requires strategic planning and investment to ensure long-term success.
Lessons Learnt
Leadership support, structured planning, and staff education can significantly improve IPAC outcomes, but long-term success depends on ongoing infrastructure investment and sufficient resourcing.