R54 Response Accepted

Surveillance system training

Recommendation

Health Boards should ensure that the users of surveillance systems are properly trained in their use and fully aware of how to use and respond to the data available.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
- The Scottish Government published its response to the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report on 18 June 2015, accepting all 75 recommendations and establishing an Implementation Group chaired by the Chief Nursing Officer (Scottish Government Response, June 2015).
- The Scottish Government's response confirmed that the HAI Taskforce delivery plan included education and training frameworks to ensure users of surveillance systems are properly trained. The Cleanliness Champions Programme, introduced in September 2003, has been completed by over 18,000 NHS Scotland staff.
- NHS Education for Scotland (NES) provides national education programmes for IPC, including specialist training for Infection Control Nurses and Doctors, mandatory induction training for all healthcare workers, and continuing professional development resources.
- The HCAI Strategy 2023-2025 includes workforce education as a priority, with ARHAI Scotland supporting training and competency development across NHS boards (Scottish HCAI Strategy 2023-2025 (https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-healthcare-associated-infection-hcai-strategy-2023-2025/)).
- Regulatory bodies (NMC, GMC) require continuing professional development as a condition of registration, reinforced through revalidation processes.
Sources
How was this evidence gathered?
Evidence searched by Claude (Anthropic) on 10 Apr 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
This recommendation applies across many organisations. The evidence above reflects central policy activity; adoption in individual organisations may vary.
Jurisdiction
Scotland
Response
Accepted
Accepted Scottish Government
18 Jun 2015

Section 4.3 of the Scottish Government's response outlines national education and training initiatives, including a strategy from the HAI Taskforce to ensure all healthcare workers receive appropriate education and training related to HAI. This is supported by the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual, which provides guidance on evidence-based practice and monitoring. Additionally, specific tools like the C. diff trigger tool, detailed in Section 2.1, are provided to support NHS boards in responding to data, implying a need for trained users.

Read Full Response
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.

Good Progress
01 May 2022
Healthcare Improvement Scotland Other

HIS IPC Standards (2022) Standard 4 (Assurance and Monitoring) addresses surveillance system training requirements. SIPCEP includes surveillance system training as part of the IPC education pathway.

View detailed findings

National standards and education pathway ensure surveillance system users are properly trained.

HIS IPC Standards - Standard 4: Assurance and Mon… 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
Staff training and development Disease outbreak surveillance Training Surveillance
Recommendation age 11.5 yrs
Last formal update 4000 days ago