Matrons in the frontline to fight spread of infection

Most people are anxious about a stay in hospital. They are not only worried about an operation, they also have concerns about contracting other infections such as MRSA or the Norovirus. In a bid to put people's minds at rest, a team of matrons patrol the wards at Peterborough District Hospital.
Features editor Julia Ogden met three of them:

Nicola Sharp: matron in charge of infection control
AFTER spending an hour in the company of Nicola Sharp, I defy anyone not to come away with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).

What this woman doesn't know about germs and the spread of infection is not worth knowing.

This is hardly surprising, however, as Nicola is the matron in charge of infection control at Peterborough District Hospital (PDH).

She can tell you that if someone vomits in a crowded room they can infect up to 100 people, that bacteria can live on lipsticks for months, and that all bleach does is make germs white.

"If you read the back of a bleach bottle carefully," she said. "It explains it can kill 99.9 per cent of all germs, but only when used with a detergent.

"The best way to keep your kitchen work surfaces and toilets clean is by using hot, soapy water and a disposable cloth – you really do not need to use bleach."

Nicola stressed the best way to minimise the spread of infection is by washing your hands properly.

"People think alcohol hand gels get rid of germs, and although they are great for killing bacteria they do not work on viruses – soap and water is best," she said.

"If everyone washed their hands properly, particularly before they cook, eat and after they have been to the toilet, we would reduce the spread of infections by 80 per cent."

Did you know you should always shut the toilet lid before you flush it? Apparently spores from excrement can travel through the air landing on the surfaces around it – including toothbrushes.

"Do you know why we use toothpaste?" Nicola said. "To disguise the taste of poo on our toothbrushes.

"How many people keep their toothbrushes in the bathroom? Well, if they do, they should keep them in a cupboard to make sure they are clean and safe to use."

As matron in charge of infection control at PDH, Nicola is in charge of a team of nurses who make sure all hospital staff follow the correct procedures to minimise infection and the spread of germs. They also carry out spot-checks on wards to ensure they have been cleaned properly.

Although MRSA and C. diff are the infections which hit the headlines the most, it is actually the Norovirus which causes the biggest problem in Peterborough.

Noroviruses are part of a group of viruses which cause gastroenteritis (upset stomach) and are more commonly contracted during the winter months.

It is estimated that the Norovirus affects between 600,000 and one million people in the UK every year. Outbreaks of the illness are common, particularly within contained environments such as hospitals, nursing homes and schools. This is because the Norovirus spreads very easily and it can survive for several days in a contaminated area.

The Norovirus can be spread through contact with an infected person, through contact with surfaces or objects that are contaminated with the virus, or by eating contaminated food or water.

There are many types of Norovirus, and it is possible for infection to occur several times. This is because after getting the illness, immunity to the virus only lasts for 14 weeks. Having recurring bouts of the Norovirus may provide some protection from future infection.

When you enter the main reception area at PDH, there are signs up everywhere warning people not to visit patients if they have had diarrohea or sickness in the last 24 hours.

"We want people to visit patients, of course we do," said Nicola, "but they need to be sensible. If they are ill they should not visit. A normal healthy person can get rid of a cough, cold or stomach bug relatively quickly, but if someone is recovering from an operation or is in hospital with another serious illness, catching a virus like this on top could be very serious indeed."

Sue Hartley: keeping children protected
ALTHOUGH Sue Hartley has worked on children's wards all of her nursing life, she still finds it hard dealing with child protection cases.

"I cannot get my head around the fact that someone who is supposed to love and care for a child can hurt them so badly – even now, after all this time, it is a part of my job I really struggle with," she said.

Rather worryingly, and perhaps surprisingly, Sue says there is a particularly high level of child protection cases in Peterborough.

She believes there are a number of factors which contribute to this including the fact that people live very isolated lives today.

"A lot of women have moved here because of their husbands' jobs, they have no family nearby and therefore no support," she said.

"Social deprivation and poverty do not help either, and many children suffer general neglect and poor nutrition."

Sue is Peterborough's first matron in charge of children's services, a role she took up five years ago.

"I see my role as an advocate for children across the trust – looking at infection control, hygiene, nutrition and patient safety.

"The biggest challenge is to make sure everyone a child comes into contact with in a hospital understands how to deal with children. They should not be treated like little adults, their attitude to pain is very different, and they also have the added stress of being separated from their families."

Sue says about 12,000 children come through the Amazon ward a year, 16,000 through A&E and 12,000 through adult clinics.

"I really love my job," she said. "The sense of camaraderie, being part of something which is continually evolving and improving, is amazing.

"I also thing it is a privilege to work with children. It is one of the only occupations where you can build up a really close relationship with a child, take care of them and let them know they are loved and respected."

Lynne Pearson: Reassurance about best care
The biggest challenge Lynne Pearson faces as matron for surgery at PDH is trying to meet everyone's expectations.

"People expect much more from the NHS today than they have ever done before, " she said.

"My job is to make sure the patients on the surgical wards feel safe and well cared for, which is not always easy because of staff shortages etc. "

Lynne believes there is a shortage of nurses nationally, as well as locally, because women today have more career choices than they had 20 or 30 years ago.

"When I left school after my A-levels there were basically three choices for girls – you could become a teacher, get a job in a bank or an office, or go into nursing.

"Women have more choices now, which is great, but it does mean fewer of them choose to go into nursing – in part this is due to the pay and the unsociable hours. "

Lynne has been a matron since December 2007 and says she thinks her role is vital in reassuring patients and their families that they are getting the best possible care.

"The majority of us matrons are more mature women, who have a lot of experience and know how to deal with a variety of situations, helping patients see we take their concerns seriously and do all we can to help them feel safe.

Lynne says the best part of her job is when a patient says they feel they have been cared for well.

"It gives you a real warm glow, especially when you see a patient get better because of the care they have received from our staff, who work so hard to help them."