On 30th January 2012, the Department of Health’s sixteenth annual Infection Prevention and Control Conference entitled ‘First Do No Harm’, was held at the Keyll Darree Education Centre at Noble’s Hospital in the Isle of Man. This educational conference for healthcare workers and allied professions examined important aspects of the control of both hospital and community infections.  At this year's conference particular emphasis was given to standards that must be met to prevent healthcare associated infection and improve patient safety within both hospitals and the wider community. This is important when the Department is looking at shorter stays in hospital and an increasing trend towards community centred care. The conference was a huge success and the lecture theatre was full to capacity.
 
The importance of this conference was recognised by Minister for Health, David Anderson MHK in his opening remarks. The Minister said that he was: “delighted to see such a wide range of health professionals attending the conference, which demonstrates the commitment of individual healthcare workers in ensuring patient safety is a priority”.  The conference was chaired by Mr David Killip, Chief Executive for the Department of Health and Dr Guy Sissons, Clinical Lead, Diagnostic and Professional Services at Noble’s Hospital.
 
The keynote speaker was Professor Mark Wilcox who is the Consultant Microbiologist and Director of Pathology at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Professor Wilcox is also the Lead for Clostridium difficile for the Health Protection Agency in England. His talk was centred around the methods of prevention, detection, management and treatment of Clostridium difficile.
 
Mr Philip Howard, Consultant Antimicrobial Pharmacist at Leeds General Infirmary, who also presented, informed the audience that antibiotic stewardship was about the marriage between antibiotic management and infection control. He added that careful prescribing of antibiotics had resulted in a dramatic reduction of healthcare associated infections in Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
 
Judy Potter, Lead Nurse, Director of Infection Prevention and Control at the Royal Devon and Exeter Foundation Trust spoke about the challenges involved in managing large outbreaks of norovirus in Devon.
 
The afternoon session concentrated on the practical application of infection prevention and control.
 
Mr Derek Butler spoke about the effects that MRSA has on patients and families. As the founder member of the charity ‘MRSA Action UK’, Derek has published articles in The Daily Telegraph, Women’s Own magazine and has appeared on the Richard and Judy Show, in his drive to raise awareness and inform the public and professionals about the importance of infection prevention and control.
 
Dr Naomi Baldwin, a Senior Infection Prevention and Control Nurse at Antrim Hospital, Northern Health and Social Care Trust discussed the experiences and challenges she had in reducing the rates of Clostridium difficile in Belfast Hospitals.
 
The final speaker was Dr John Wardle who is the Director of Infection Prevention and Control for the Department of Health in the Isle of Man. His talk focused on the Past, Present and Future of Infection Prevention and Control within the Isle of Man. Dr Wardle stated the importance of infection prevention and control in the design phases of healthcare buildings. He stated: “During the planning phase of Noble’s Hospital, the Infection Prevention and Control Team worked with the architects and hospital managers to ensure that the design of the hospital was conducive to gold standard infection prevention practices.”
 
The conference was closed by Dr John Wardle, who is shortly retiring from his role at Noble’s Hospital, making this his last Infection Prevention and Control Conference as a member of the Noble’s team.  Dr Wardle has spoken at all sixteen Infection Prevention and Control Conferences, which began in 1995 when he took up his post at Noble’s Hospital.  A commemorative glass etching was presented to Dr Wardle by David Killip to mark Dr Wardle’s contribution to the success of past conferences and for his service to Noble’s Hospital and the people of the Isle of Man.
 
David Killip, Chief Executive said: “It was a delight to co-chair this year’s conference which gives attendees a chance to take stock and hear from other professionals as we battle to control the spread of infection in health and community settings.  It was a poignant moment as I presented Dr Wardle with a commemorative trophy as he has been instrumental in making the conferences a success each year.  It’s fitting that we mark 17 years of outstanding achievement in the organisation and sustainability of the conferences and the exceptional presentations that he has given us.”
 
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