R50 Response Accepted AI-assessed

24/7 IPC cover

Recommendation

Health Boards should ensure that there is 24-hour cover for infection prevention and control seven days a week, and that contingency plans for leave and sickness absence are in place.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
According to Healthcare Improvement Scotland (2022-05-01), Healthcare Improvement Scotland's (HIS) IPC Standards (2022) address the requirements for 24-hour, seven-day-a-week infection prevention and control (IPC) cover. According to Healthcare Improvement Scotland (2022-05-01), the Infection Prevention Workforce Strategic Plan 2022-2024 also addresses workforce planning for IPC services, including contingency arrangements for leave and sickness absence. According to the available evidence, the Scottish Government accepted this recommendation in 2015.
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 4.1 of the Scottish Government's response discusses general workforce planning, including the use of nursing and midwifery workload and workforce planning tools to determine the number of nurses or midwives needed. However, the provided text does not contain specific passages addressing the provision of 24-hour, seven-day-a-week cover for infection prevention and control staff, nor does it detail contingency plans for their leave and sickness absence.

Read Full Response
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 May 2022
Healthcare Improvement Scotland Other

HIS IPC Standards (2022) address requirements for 24/7 IPC cover. Infection Prevention Workforce Strategic Plan 2022-2024 addresses workforce planning for IPC services including contingency arrangements.

View detailed findings

National standards and workforce strategic plan address the requirement for round-the-clock IPC cover and contingency planning.

HIS IPC Standards and Workforce Strategic Plan 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
Care home infection control Emergency contingency plans Staff rota communication Infection Control Staffing
Recommendation age 11.3 yrs
Last formal update 3932 days ago