Bupa Cromwell Hospital appoints infection prevention and
control nurse - a London private hospital first
10 February 2010
Bupa Cromwell Hospital has appointed Jackie Portsmouth as
Infection Prevention and Control Consultant Nurse. Her role is
unique amongst London’s private hospitals and underlines the
importance Bupa Cromwell places on maintaining the highest
standards of hygiene.
Jackie qualified as a nurse in 1977 and began her career in
infection prevention and control in 1998 training at Queen Victoria
Hospital’s specialist Burns, Plastic Surgery and Maxillofacial Unit
in West Sussex. Two years later, having completed a Diploma in
Infection Control, Jackie moved to an acute hospital setting where
she was able to consolidate her experience. She completed a
BSc and Masters at the University of Brighton and in 2007 was
appointed Consultant Nurse, Infection Prevention and Control, at
Brighton and Sussex University NHS Trust hospitals.
Infection prevention and control is an evidence-based discipline
and a core speciality within healthcare. Getting it right is
essential to the wellbeing of patients and aids
recovery. Jackie will work alongside Bupa Cromwell Hospital’s
Consultant Microbiologist/Infection Prevention and Control Doctor,
closely monitoring hygiene standards and creating protocols to
retain the hospital’s stringent hygiene standards.
Throughout 2009 and this year there were no reported cases
of hospital acquired MRSA or Clostridium difficile at Bupa Cromwell
Hospital.
Commenting on her new role, Jackie said: ‘My appointment
reflects how professional and forward thinking Bupa Cromwell
Hospital is and that it takes infection prevention and control
extremely seriously. People are naturally concerned about acquiring
infections when they come into a hospital. It is reassuring
for our patients to know that we are committed to delivering the
highest standards of infection prevention and control.”
Bupa Cromwell Hospital has also recently introduced GP Fast Track, a 24-hour, seven day-a-week
service for GPs, providing rapid referral for their adult and
paediatric private patients who need urgent medical
admission. A dedicated GP telephone number is staffed by nurse
administrators who arrange priority admission with one of the
hospital’s on-call consultants.
Michele Lahey, Chief Executive of Bupa Cromwell Hospital, said:
“We are always looking at ways to improve the patient journey
through this hospital and providing rigorous and professional
hygiene standards is core to that. We already had high
standards of infection prevention and control when Jackie joined
our clinical team, but we want to go even further to develop and
enhance our approach throughout the hospital, with set standards
and protocols which are under constant review.
“Introducing the Fast Track service for GPs is also integral to
ensuring our patients have access to the best treatment as soon as
possible,” she said.