In 2011, Health Protection Scotland published guidance, ‘General information and infection prevention and control precautions to prepare for and manage norovirus in care homes'.
We have been working with Health Protection Scotland to evaluate this guidance and feedback to them has been very positive. Although the guidance was written for care home settings, it could be used in other non-hospital settings where care accommodation services are provided.
Prompt action can reduce potential spread to other service users, visitors and staff.
Advice to care home settings is:
- Follow the guidance ‘General information and infection prevention and control precautions to prepare for and manage norovirus in care homes 2011’ which was previously publicised by the Care Inspectorate and Health Protection Scotland in November 2011 and April 2012.
- Make sure that you prepare for norovirus season (Section 1.8 in the guidance).
- Implement control measures as soon as possible to reduce potential spread. Remember to keep service users and their family/friends informed. Make sure everyone knows where to wash their hands on entering and leaving the care home.
- Notify the local Health Protection Team (Public Health) and the Care Inspectorate immediately in the instance of an outbreak.
- Keep a note of what worked well and what you could do better so that lessons can be learnt and feedback can be given to all concerned.
Please remember that this virus can affect children and staff in childcare settings too.
More information on the winter vomiting bug (norovirus) is available from NHS Inform.
http://www.nhsinform.co.uk/health-library/articles/n/norovirus/introduction