Local HAI Task Forces
Scottish Government should develop local healthcare Associated infection (HAI) Task Forces within each Health Board area.
- The Scottish Government committed to restructuring the national HAI Taskforce into a smaller, more focused group working with local teams and existing structures in NHS boards. The government committed to supporting NHS board-level HAI governance structures linked to the national Taskforce.
- The current strategic framework, the Scottish HCAI Strategy 2023-2025, is overseen by the HCAI Strategy Oversight Board chaired by the Chief Nursing Officer, with representation from Scottish Government, expert stakeholders, and National Health Boards (Scottish HCAI Strategy 2023-2025 (https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-healthcare-associated-infection-hcai-strategy-2023-2025/)).
- Key partner agencies include ARHAI Scotland (Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection Scotland) and Public Health Scotland, which provide national surveillance, scientific advice, and implementation support to NHS boards.
- Each NHS board maintains local infection prevention and control governance structures, with Infection Control Managers reporting to chief executives and boards as required by the HAI Standards.
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedSection 2.1 of the Scottish Government's response states that the national Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Taskforce has been restructured into a smaller, more focused group. This group 'will work with local teams and existing structures in NHS boards' to provide leadership and expert advice on the HAI agenda. The text describes this collaborative approach with existing local mechanisms rather than the explicit development of new, dedicated local HAI Task Forces within each Health Board area.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
Scottish Government developed AMR/HAI 5-Year Strategic Framework 2016-2021 which included local implementation structures within Health Boards. Succeeded by HCAI Strategy 2023-2025 with local governance arrangements.
View detailed findings
The initial HAI Taskforce was restructured into smaller more focused groups working with local teams and existing NHS board structures. Local implementation is monitored through the national governance framework.