A STRETCHED service aimed at preventing the spread of infections in St Helens, Halton and Warrington is being expanded to help fight coronavirus.

The Infection Prevention Control (IPC) team offers advice, guidance and training across various settings on all infection control matters.

The team is based at Newton Community Hospital and is jointly funded by Public Health in the three boroughs.

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At present, the service has four infection control nurses, an infection control practitioner and a full-time secretary.

Demand for the service has grown during the coronavirus pandemic and a decision has now been taken to recruit four additional nurses.

Details of the decision, which has been taken through delegated powers, has been published on St Helens Borough Council’s website.

“The current COVID-19 pandemic has placed considerable demands on the IPC service, recruitment of four additional IPC nurses will increase the capacity of the team in particular to provide support to a variety of settings, support local outbreak management and seasonal influenza,” the council said.

“In addition the recruitment of the additional staff will ensure the stability of the service going forward due to current staff retirement plans.”

Last week, St Helens Borough Council published its outbreak management plan for COVID-19.

This is something local authorities across the country have been asked to do in support of the government’s Test and Trace service.

The primary objectives of the Test and Trace service and the outbreak management arrangements is to control the COVID-19 infection rate, reduce the spread of infection and save lives

“Prevention is the most effective method of stopping transmission and outbreaks of COVID-19,” the plan says.

“Stringent attention to social distancing advice, key infection control measures including cleaning and hand washing, timely contact tracing and appropriate isolation measures are effective in stopping transmission.

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“Hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of the virus.

“Therefore in St Helens, the local authority and its partners will be regularly sending out communications aimed to reinforce to the general public the importance of infection prevention.

“We will also be providing advice and support to a range of settings and staff groups, including written guidelines, access to telephone advice and site visits.”