Meet the Infection Prevention Control Champions | News

This week is Infection Prevention Week (16-22 October) and an opportunity to shine a light on some Royal Surrey's Infection Prevention Control Champions who, through their infection control expertise and enthusiasm, help the Trust maintain its high levels of safe patient care.

“Infection Control Champions are an important resource in the trust, undertaking valuable work and support in their teams,” said Vicky Sedgwick, Infection Control Nurse.

There are 97 Infection Control Champions across the Trust, who are nurses, healthcare assistants, allied health care professionals and doctors working in our wards, outpatient settings and community services. They act as role models within their teams and are a proactive resource for infection control and signposting best practice. Kelly, Ana and Lynn are among them.

Kelly Symes, Senior Sister, ICU

Kelly is a longstanding IPC Champion, first picking up the mantle in 2008 and now leading a group of 17 ICU champions. She says being a champion is about “being observant of what is occurring around you and providing a friendly reminder of correct infection control polices”.

The team of ICU champions do FFP3 mask fit testing, some are peer vaccinators and they discuss improvements with the Infection Control Team, who Kelly finds really open to talking about improvements.

“IPC is so important to patient outcomes and if they’re not followed it could be potentially catastrophic for patients. IPC is important everywhere but in ICU patients are sometimes more vulnerable as they have lots of invasive lines which means you have to be extra vigilant.”

Ana Maduro, Nurse, Stokes Centre for Urology

Ana became an IPC champion in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, inspired by the important role of infection control in healthcare settings, particularly clinical areas.  

“We are looking after mostly cancer or suspected cancer patients so practicing it daily helps the staff and our patients to feel safe and reassured that we provide safe care and this protects our patients, staff and visitors. Even during the height of Covid, they would feel safe and secure to come in to our centre and have their treatment done without delay.

“This role is important because as a health care provider, infection prevention should be our main priority knowing that most of our patients are immunocompromised.

“The best thing about being an IPC champion is to be able to provide information and to influence best practice within our workplace. We also act as an extra hand for our Infection control team as infection prevention within the hospital is a collaborative effort.”

Lynn Lowton, Team Leader Physiotherapist, Community Therapy Team (Adult Community Health Services), Milford Hospital

Lynn became an IPC Champion two years ago, keen to understand more about the role and to support her team in this area. She said:

“The team have a port of call for any infection control queries. I am able to link in with our very supportive Infection Control Team who are always on hand to answer any queries that we may have, however big or small! We have a designated Infection Control Lead for Community Services, Vicky Sedgwick, who has been extremely supportive throughout.

“Having someone within this role ensures that the team that they work within – and those that they support – have all of the up-to-date, important information in relation to Infection, Prevention and Control. The role also ensures that the team is following best practice guidelines and supports the safety of both our patients and of staff members.”

Lynn says the best thing about being an IPC Champion is “Linking in with other Infection Control Champions across the Trust and learning new knowledge and skills within this area”.

Pictured left to right: Kelly Symes, Ana Maduro and Lynn Lowton