Dr Chris Settle, Chair of HIS and Consultant Microbiologist at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

“It is encouraging to see that the necessity for improved IPC knowledge amongst IPC workers is being acknowledged by the introduction of a new Educational Framework for IPC practitioners. Improvements are also needed amongst many other groups of healthcare and Social Care staff. Working together, HIS and IPS are ideally placed to provide comprehensive and innovative IPC education. Not only will these initiatives support IPC practitioners in delivering a high-quality, evidence-based service, we anticipate that they will enhance job satisfaction and career development, and consequently improve retention and recruitment to the specialty. Furthermore, HIS is also capable of providing access to appropriate IPC training for many other groups of staff, which may help to consolidate improved understanding of IPC principles across the whole Healthcare and Social Care landscape.”

Lisa Butcher, President of the IPS, Deputy Director of IPC and Lead Nurse and Manager for IPC, Oxford University Hospitals

“The IPS is encouraged that the importance of the contribution of the whole IPC workforce in the strategy to deliver the NHS Long Term Plan and the Five-year Antimicrobial Resistance National Action Plan has been recognised in the new Education Framework for IPC Practitioners.  Since its inception, one of the key activities of the IPS has been to deliver IPC-focused education and training for our health and care workforce, and we look forward to working with HIS to ensure the delivery of complimentary activities relevant to IPC Practitioners working at all levels in health and care settings.  A key activity of our societies is to support professional development, and improve the capability and capacity of our IPC teams.  This is essential if we are to ensure the sustainability of our specialist and valued workforce.”

For more information on the Education Framework for the Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner (IPC) Workforce , please click here.

1. The Healthcare Infection Society (HIS) is a charitable membership organisation committed to advancing the science and practice of infection prevention and control. HIS members are drawn largely from the medical profession and are predominantly consultant microbiologists and doctors enrolled on an infection specialty training programme. Nurses, clinical scientists, research scientists and others with a demonstrable professional interest in HCAIs are also a vital part of our membership network. 
2. The Infection Prevention Society is an independent charity with a 2,400 strong member network. IPS inform, promote and sustain evidence-based infection prevention policy and practice to create a health and care system where no person's health and wellbeing is harmed by preventable infection. For more information go to: ips.uk.net