Infection prevention and control app launched for Scottish health and care staff

A new app has been launched to give health and social care staff in Scotland the latest infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance.

The ‘Preventing infection in social care settings’ app was developed in partnership between the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI).

Developed specifically for the social care workforce, the app builds on existing knowledge and good practice and is designed to provide workers national guidance at their fingertips when they need it.

Scotland’s social care minister, Maree Todd, said: ‘The app is a great example of collaborative working to develop a user-friendly resource for social care staff, ensuring the latest infection prevention and control guidance is at their fingertips. I am pleased to see that this app has been shaped by social care staff to support and enhance their practice and ultimately improve care for people they support.’

The app was trialled with workers in different settings across Scotland including some from South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership. Head of health and social care, Ian Beattie, said: ‘South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership continues to be committed to promoting the use of digital applications.  The Preventing infection in social care app is a welcome addition to the suite of current support tools, alongside the ‘Decision Support for Adult Support and Protection’ app and information available to frontline social care staff delivering services.’

The partners behind the app also welcomed the launch.

Maree Allison, SSSC acting chief executive, said: ‘This new app means workers have easy instant access to infection prevention and control guidance exactly when they need it. Using it to supplement their knowledge will help the workforce build confidence in their practice.’

NES chief executive Karen Reid said: ‘The app was developed with the involvement of the adult social care workforce to help support and enhance their practice and learning in infection prevention and control. Technology is a great enabler. Working collaboratively with partners, this is a great example of how we can use it to improve health and social care services and better outcomes for people.’

Dr Ann Wales of DHI said: ‘DHI is delighted to support this app through the Right Decision Service – the national decision support platform for health and social care. The Right Decision Service has a special commitment to delivering digital tools to support decisions by social care staff in care home and care at home settings, and it has been a pleasure to collaborate with NES and SSSC to deliver on this goal.’

The app is based on the pocketbook Preventing Infection in Social Care Settings and aligns with national IPC guidance, in particular the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual and the Care Home Infection Prevention and Control Manual. ‘Preventing infection in social care settings’ is available for mobile devices and on the web. It will continue to be developed in line with guidance and feedback from people using it.

News of the new app launching in Scotland to help healthcare professionals has come as more and more technologies are being announced across the UK to relieve pressures on health staff. At the beginning of this year, chairman of the Covid-19 vaccine AstraZeneca, Leif Johansson, claimed switching to the digital side would help lower hospital admissions. 

Image: Garvit Nama