Samples should be sent in a faeces specimen container. Refer to Health Protection Scotland guidance
Do not take a repeat faecal sample unless advised by the GP/IPCT/HPT
Welcome to the Right Decision Service (RDS) newsletter for June 2024.
Hopefully you all received the notification on Friday 28th June about the worldwide security vulnerability relating to use of code from the Polyfill.io code library – typically used to enable use of functionality in older browsers and operating systems. This vulnerability has now been addressed within RDS. Thanks to Tactuum for their prompt action on this.
This incident served as a useful reminder about the importance of making sure all devices and desktop/laptop computers have up to date anti-malware installed.
The most recent information is that final fixes and developments will take place during July, with a view to user testing taking place in August 2024.
We will be running the six-monthly usage statistics reports for all RDS toolkits during July. Please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot if you would like to receive the usage report for your toolkit(s).
The Scottish Palliative Care Group is carrying out a value and impact survey of the national Palliative Care Guidelines toolkit on RDS. We would appreciate your help in circulating this survey, available at https://rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/scottish-palliative-care-guidelines/evaluation-survey/ /
The Palliative Care Guidelines toolkit is using an adapted version of a generic impact evaluation form which the RDS team now encourages all toolkit owners to apply 6-12 months after launch of their toolkit. Please contact ann.wales3@nhs.scot if you would like to find out more.
The RDS Learning working group is in the final stages of developing and uploading new learning resources including:
We have also drafted a communication and training plan to support implementation of the redesigned RDS. The plan aims to reach both end-users and editors, who will benefit from new features such as the archiving and version control functionality.
4.1 Training sessions for new editors (also serve as refresher sessions for existing editors) will take place on the following dates:
To book a place, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot, providing your name, organisation, job role, and level of experience with RDS editing (none, a little, moderate, extensive.)
Remember that you can also organise 1-1 training sessions with Olivia on running Google Analytics reports if you want to look at data more frequently than the six-monthly reports.
The following RDS toolkits are now live:
The following toolkits are due to go live imminently:
Some of the toolkits the RDS team is currently working on:
Please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot if you would like to learn more about a toolkit. The RDS team will put you in touch with the relevant toolkit lead.
HIS is working with the Scottish Library and Information Council and the ALLIANCE to implement the second phase of the Collective Force for Health and Wellbeing Action Plan. This plan aims to strengthen the role of public, health and school libraries in empowering people to use digital tools and health information for self-management and choices about health and wellbeing. A key element of this new phase is supporting public libraries to promote the RDS citizen-facing apps for health and wellbeing.
We held a webinar on 28th June about the implementation challenge for health and wellbeing apps for citizens. This included an overview of the evidence base around implementation, the critical importance of health literacy skills, and the early findings from tests of change of implementing the Being a partner in my care app. Please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot if you would like a copy of the slides or access to the recording of this webinar (NHS staff only.)
If you have any questions about the content of this newsletter, please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot If you would prefer not to receive future newsletters, please email Olivia.graham@nhs.scot and ask to be removed from the circulation list.
With kind regards
Right Decision Service team
Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Samples should be sent in a faeces specimen container. Refer to Health Protection Scotland guidance
Do not take a repeat faecal sample unless advised by the GP/IPCT/HPT
If safety is not compromised, ask the person to remain in their room (with the door closed) and not to visit communal areas. Explain to person why they need to remain in the room. Make sure the person can access help easily and are not ignored or suffer as a consequence of having the door closed.
People should have use of their own toilet or be allocated a commode for their own personal use.
Isolation precautions may be discontinued when the person has been symptom free for 48 hours and bowel movements have returned to normal.
Use liquid soap and warm running water for routine hand hygiene. On removal of personal protective equipment (PPE) hands must be washed. N.B. Alcohol-based hand gel is NOT effective against CDI so should not be used alone.
Use PPE; disposable gloves and disposable plastic aprons. Aprons and gloves must be changed and disposed of, then hands washed between contacts with different residents and different care procedures e.g. dealing with used linen.
Always follow local cleaning and decontamination guidelines and specific equipment manufacturers instructions.
Avoid the use of fans as these re-circulate the air and can spread infection.
The person’s laundry should be safely put inside a washing machine without staff becoming contaminated e.g. place linen in machine in water soluble (alginate) bag.
Rooms of people with symptoms should be prioritised for frequent cleaning (at least daily) with emphasis on toilets and frequently touched surfaces e.g. tables, door knobs. These surfaces must be cleaned immediately if visibly soiled.
Keep the residents room clean and as clutter free as possible.
Use a single use disposable cloths for cleaning each person’s room.
Once a resident no longer has symptoms terminal cleaning of their room should be carried out and any sundries within the room should be discarded to reduce risk of re-infection.