Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a practical, evidence-based approach preventing patients and health workers from being harmed by avoidable infections.
IPC is unique in the field of patient safety and quality of care, as it is universally relevant to every health worker and patient, at every health care interaction. (World Health Organisation 2021)
How do we keep you, as our patient, safe from infection when being cared for by EMAS staff?
- All equipment is cleaned before it is used for you, including the stretchers before and after each journey.
- We clean our hands using alcohol-based hand rub before and after everything we do. Our film below (and on YouTube) shows the correct hand hygiene technique.
- Our staff are trained in the importance of preventing cross infection.
- We may use disposable gloves, aprons, masks and eye protection, often referred to as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), to prevent transfer of germs from our staff to you or the other way round. For some situations our crews may be required to wear a higher level of PPE, which includes a coverall and a full-face respirator hood.
- Our ambulances are thoroughly deep cleaned inside and out, on a strict schedule where everything is removed, checked and cleaned.
- 999 calls - If you phone 999 and currently have any type of infection, please tell us during the call.
- Patient Transport Services (PTS) - If you use our PTS service, please can you advise us if you have any kind of infection. The number to call is 0300 300 3434.
- Healthcare professionals booking patient transfers or arranging transport, please ensure you advise us if the patient has any communicable infections to ensure we arrange appropriate transport for the patient. Find further information on requesting an ambulance if you are a GP or a HCP
If you have concerns about anything to do with your or a family members’ care to do with infection please contact our Patient Experience team
