R20 Response Accepted AI-assessed

Stool records for CDI patients

Recommendation

Health Boards should ensure that where a patient has, or is suspected of having, C.difficile diarrhoea a proper record of the patient's stools is kept.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
According to the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM), NHS Health Boards ensure that proper records of a patient's stools are kept when *C. difficile* diarrhoea is present or suspected, which includes specific guidance on *C. difficile* infection (CDI) patient management, encompassing stool monitoring. According to Healthcare Improvement Scotland in January 2025, the Excellence in Care framework monitors fundamentals of care documentation standards, with ward-level compliance tracked via the CAIR Dashboard and Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) inspections.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 19 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.gov.scot, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
This recommendation requires implementation across many organisations. The assessment reflects central policy response, not adoption in individual organisations.
Jurisdiction
Scotland
Response
Accepted
Accepted Scottish Government
18 Jun 2015

Section 4.2 of the Scottish Government's response outlines the professional standards for record-keeping for nurses. The revised NMC code requires nurses and midwives to complete all records accurately and without any falsification, and to identify any risks or problems and the steps taken to deal with them. This ensures that a proper record of a patient's stools is kept when C. difficile diarrhoea is present or suspected.

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Published Evidence

Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.

Good Progress
01 Jan 2025
Healthcare Improvement Scotland Other

NIPCM includes specific guidance on CDI patient management including stool monitoring. Excellence in Care framework monitors fundamentals of care documentation standards.

View detailed findings

National guidance on CDI management is comprehensive. Ward-level compliance monitored through CAIR Dashboard and HEI inspections.

NIPCM CDI management guidance and Excellence in C… View Source
Source
Inquiry Vale of Leven Inquiry
Report The Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report 24 Nov 2014
View Source
Responsible Bodies
NHS Health Boards (Scotland) Primary
Themes & Tags
Inaccurate and inaccessible patient records Care home infection control C.difficile Records Nursing
Recommendation age 11.3 yrs
Last formal update 3932 days ago