Royal College of Emergency Medicine calls for a return to robust infection prevention measures following a dip in screening standards.

Hospital emergency departments in the UK have been urged to prioritise infection prevention and control (IPC) to ensure the safety of both patients and staff. This comes after a report by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) revealed concerning declines in IPC standards since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. The report, which analysed data from 127 emergency departments, highlighted that both staff and patients remain vulnerable to infectious diseases, especially Covid-19 and flu.

The RCEM’s three-year quality improvement programme (QIP) surveyed over 65,000 patients and found that the proportion of patients screened for infectious diseases upon attending emergency departments had dropped from 25% in 2022 to just 17% last year. The report further revealed that 35 emergency departments recorded no patients being screened for all three conditions: Covid-19, flu, and vulnerable health conditions.

Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the RCEM, stressed that infection control must be reinstated as a central concern in emergency departments. “It is unconscionable that directly after a terrible pandemic the system is not providing the standards that staff and patients need,” he said. “We must ensure that an environment where staff and patients are protected properly against infectious diseases is the norm.”

Concerns were raised regarding a rising number of hospital attendances involving Covid-19 and a drop in vaccination rates among healthcare staff. Despite the successful rollout of Covid-19 vaccines, there has been a decline in the number of staff being vaccinated, which the RCEM deems alarming.

Dr Fiona Burton, the lead of the QIP team, acknowledged that the post-pandemic context, combined with the pressure on emergency departments, may have led to a reduction in IPC focus. “With the successful vaccination programme, the messaging has lessened,” she said. “But we have to remember that Covid has not gone away and still poses a serious threat.”

The RCEM’s report urged continued vigilance, calling for staff to be encouraged to screen patients, document results, and get vaccinated. The charity also stressed the need for infection prevention and control teams to work closely with emergency departments to maximise patient safety.

As winter pressures mount and industrial action by junior doctors continues, the NHS is facing additional challenges. The RCEM’s report underlines the critical need for hospitals to step up their IPC measures to protect everyone who relies on the emergency care system.