East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust

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Tuesday 21 May 2013

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About Us

Committed to infection prevention and control

A key priority for EMAS is providing a clean and safe environment for healthcare. We are committed to reducing the risks of Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI) by identifying and reducing infection risks and continually developing safer working practices.

‘The Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice for the NHS on the prevention and control of healthcare infections and related guidance’ (Department of Health Amended 2010) is often referred to as the ‘Hygiene Code’.

This includes:

- How healthcare providers can meet the registration

requirements relating to healthcare associated infection.

- How the compliance with the regulations will be assessed.
- Guidance on enforcement.

EMAS is a registered healthcare provider and therefore we regularly monitor our performance against the Hygiene Code through the Infection, Prevention and Control Group and the Clinical Governance Group.

Ambulance Vehicle Deep Cleaning

All of EMAS' patient carrying ambulance vehicles are deep cleaned on a 4 week rotation. Other responding vehicles are deep cleaned on a 6 week rotation.

If a vehicle is soiled during a 999 call, the crew inform Control that the vehicle has to be taken off the road to be deep cleaned. Wherever possible, the crew transfer onto a replacement vehicle so they can remain operational.

Please take a look at the Deep Clean Check List below to find out how every aspect of our vehicles is cleaned and/or cleaned and disinfected.

EMAS Deep Clean Report Check List [pdf / 51KB] EMAS Deep Clean Report Check List

The pictures below show Deep Clean staff deep cleaning the ambulance and the equipment they use to deep clean ambulances and other responding vehicles.

We can all play a part in preventing infections

The easiest and most effective way to reduce the spread of infection is good hand hygiene, this means washing hands regularly throughout the day with soap and water.

Healthcare staff, including ambulance crews practice hand hygiene when caring for patients to prevent and control Healthcare Associated Infections as detailed in the picture below.

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