A recent survey of care homes in England by the CQC
found that knowledge of infection prevention and control
guidance is highly variable and that such guidance is often
not being implemented by care homes.13 The study found a
general lack of in-house experience of infection prevention
and control within care homes, which rely largely on other
organizations for advice and support.Areas of concern
included inadequate sharing of information regarding
patients’ infection status between care homes and hospitals,
which may affect patient care, recovery and transmission of
infection. The study concluded that care homes in England
require more advice, support and training in order to meet
the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act.
Although our study explored different aspects of the Health
and Social Care Act to the CQC study, our findings are consistent
with the overall conclusion that a great deal of progress
must be made in order for care homes to meet the
requirements of the Act, prior to its introduction in 2010.