Here is a brief description of recent policy changes. Please make yourself aware of the changes, as they may also impact training requirements.
Policies that have been added, updated or renewed within the last 30 days are all stored on the Recent Updates page of the Policies and Documents library. So you can find these documents there or search from the homepage.
Updated:
Management of Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacterales Policy
- Includes guidance from the Framework of actions to contain carbapenemase-producing enterobacterales (Public Health England, September 2020).
- Minor amendments to cover risk assessment, patient information and the national IPC manual changes on PPE.
- Epidemiology update.
- Symptom update including clarification of red flag symptoms.
- Link to risk factors added to policy.
- Clarification on sampling section.
- Case definition aligned with UKHSA wording.
- Update information on rare serogroups.
- Antibiotic treatment change - Previously Benzylpenicillin, links to adult and paeds Trust guidelines added. Ceftriaxone now recommended.
- Information about ciprofloxacin resistance added.
- Changes to prophylaxis prescribing and access for staff out of hours.
- Changes to prophylaxis access for parents/carers.
- PPE guidance updated in line with National IPC Manual.
- UKHSA telephone numbers updated.
- Occupational Health section added to duties and responsibilities.
- Staff and patient contact forms updated.
Pets and Animals in a Healthcare Setting Policy
- Reviewed and updated with Zoonosis considerations and incidents involving animals have been added.
The Medicine Code Handling Medicines in Endoscopy
- Removed reference to paper Controlled Dugs stationery.
The Medicine Code Medicine Defect Reporting
- Updated from DATIX to InPhase.
- Update to wording for MHRA Medicines Recalls/defect notifications.
- Reference to Pharmacy SOP.
Delegation of Meds Admin to Unregistered Practitioners in Community Policy
- Change of name of domiciliary medicines policy to match updated policy now called UCR SOP for Medicines Administration.
- Addition of the delegated task being in the job description of the person the task is being delegated too.
- Change in Trust incident reporting system from Datix to InPhase.
- Update to references.
- Includes an appendix with a new accessible policy template.
- If you are updating or creating a new policy you must update it in the new accessible template. Please do not copy over the same text without formatting as this will no longer make it accessible.
- This new template should be used for all policies to be approved from 1st April 2026.
If you have any feedback on using this accessible template, please contact Company Secretary, Andrea McCourt -Andrea.McCourt@cht.nhs.uk
For further guidance on accessible information, visit the Communications Team intranet pages: Branding, logos, templates and writing style