Sherwood Forest Hospitals is benefiting from improved support in controlling infection thanks to the appointment of a new specialist.

As Nurse Consultant for Infection Prevention and Control, Rosie Dixon is providing expert advice and support to Trust staff in their continuing fight against infectious diseases including MRSA and Clostridium Difficile.

Rosie has more than 13 years of experience in the field of infection control, having worked with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, leading and implementing a number of national campaigns, including ‘cleanyourhands’, which aims to ensure that hand hygiene has a high profile with healthcare staff and the public. For the last five years Rosie has worked as the lead for infection prevention and control at Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust where she implemented a raft of changes to improve patient safety and care.

She also volunteered to spend time in a partner organisation within North East Uganda to help make basic improvements to the conditions within the region’s Gulu Referral Hospital; and continues to provide on-going support to staff there.

Rosie said: “I’m delighted to be appointed to this post. The Trust is committed to providing a clean and safe environment for patients, visitors and staff and we have a strict hygiene routine for everyone in our care.

“Education is key to continued success. We train staff to always act to prevent infections, and recognise how to control the spread of any new infection, for example by keeping infected patients apart from others.”

The Trust has implemented a number of measures and initiatives that help in the fight against infection, including a programme to ensure all wards are deep cleaned and introducing new technologies to assist in ensuring the standards of cleaning are high.

Rosie added: “Visitors can also play a part in helping us to protect their friends and relatives in hospital by simply thoroughly washing their hands or using alcohol gel before entering any ward, and most importantly not to visit hospital if they have a cold or other infection.”