Cohorting only exceptional
Health Boards should ensure that cohorting is not used as a substitute for single room isolation and is only resorted to in exceptional circumstances.
- The 100% single-room policy for new-build hospitals significantly reduces the need for cohorting as a substitute for isolation. The NIPCM provides guidance that cohorting should only be used when single-room isolation is not available, confirming it should not be the default approach (National Infection Prevention and Control Manual for Scotland (https://www.nipcm.hps.scot.nhs.uk/about-the-manual/)).
- The ongoing programme of hospital building and refurbishment in Scotland, with the single-room requirement, progressively reduces reliance on cohorting across the NHS Scotland estate.
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedSection 3.1 of the Scottish Government's response outlines a policy to increase single-room accommodation in hospitals. All planned new-build hospitals are now required to provide 100% single-room accommodation, and refurbished hospital builds must ensure at least 50%. This initiative aims to significantly contribute to reducing patients' risk of contracting and passing on infection, thereby minimizing the need for cohorting.
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.
NIPCM provides detailed guidance on isolation and cohorting. Cohorting is restricted to exceptional circumstances when single rooms are unavailable. National standards reinforce single-room isolation as default.
View detailed findings
NIPCM updated July 2022 with ongoing revisions. Provides evidence-based guidance on when cohorting may be used as a last resort.