Infection prevention and control

Our Infection Control team is committed to the development and maintenance of a safe environment for patients, staff and visitors.

Our commitment to keeping you safe

Whilst not all infections are preventable, a proportion of healthcare-associated infections are. With that in mind, infection prevention and control and basic hygiene are at the heart of good management and clinical practice and therefore vitally important to the work we do at Benenden Hospital.

We've introduced thorough pre-admission screening, invested in high tech theatres, provided extensive training for our own cleaning teams, and are Matron-led to ensure that our strategy to enable a clean, infection-free environment is adhered to at all times.

Our high-tech and methodical approach to infection control means we offer a safe, clean environment, with no cases of Bacteraemia or Septicaemia related to MRSA, and no cases of Clostridium Difficile (as defined by the Department of Health) - since 2002.

We always seek to ensure that appropriate resources are allocated to provide effective protection of patients, staff and visitors health from hospital-acquired infection, communicable disease and antibiotic resistance.

Hand hygiene

Monthly Hand Hygiene Audits are completed in all clinical areas, and assessments and training is completed in non-clinical areas using a U.V. light box and torch. This ensures that our high standards are maintained across the organisation.

How we maintain hand hygiene

Cleanliness and MRSA

We're proud of our zero rate for MRSA blood stream infections and do all we can through this rigorous screening programme to maintain this excellent record.

Inpatient MRSA screening

Decontamination Services

Our on-site Decontamination Services Department is responsible for the decontamination of reusable medical devices received into, used by and sent out from the hospital.

About Decontamination Services

Clostridium Difficile

We have a strict Clostridium Difficile (C.Difficile) policy to ensure that neither patients, visitors nor staff enter the hospital if suffering from C.Difficile.

Our C.Difficile policy

Norovirus

Norovirus - also known as the winter vomiting virus or bug - is extremely contagious. We work hard to reduce the risk of norovirus to our patients, visitors, and staff.

Reducing the risk from Norovirus

Antibiotic Resistance

As members of the Antibiotic Guardian scheme, we're working hard to contribute to the safe use of antibiotics and to reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections.

Antibiotic Resistance

You're in safe hands at Benenden Hospital

As restrictions are lifted please remember that, during your visit, COVID-19 measures remain unchanged at the moment.

Face masks, social distancing and other measures are still in place at our hospital, ensuring patients, visitors and staff are in safe hands.

Watch our video to find out how we're keeping you safe at Benenden Hospital.

How we're keeping you safe