Sodexo partners with IPS and Essity to provide education to prevent spread of infection

Sodexo has partnered up with the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) and Tork, Essity’s global leading professional hygiene brand, to launch an Environment, Cleaning and Decontamination (ECD) programme to support infection prevention practitioners tackle infections in healthcare settings.

Infection control has never been so critical. The Covid-19 pandemic has shone a light on the need for up-to-the-minute education and support services for infection prevention professionals.

The new ECD programme will improve best practices and prevent healthcare associated infections throughout the patient’s journey. It also seeks to educate the infection prevention control community at a time when it is essential; they feel engaged and valued. The programme will involve several highly respected infection prevention and microbiology experts.

The programme will include a free to attend conference on 23rd November, which will feature expert industry speakers and result in a series of ongoing workgroups. Throughout the year, there will be a series of meetings held to further develop the programme both in the UK and overseas, with the potential to involve international societies to extend the reach of the initiative.

Simon Lilley, Sodexo Healthcare Director of Strategy, said: “Sodexo is delighted to be partnering with IPS and Tork in this new programme which will help reduce preventable infections in healthcare.

“For many years Sodexo has worked by the side of NHS hospitals creating safe healthcare environments, this partnership demonstrates our ongoing commitment to harnessing the power of data, science and best practice to advancing infection prevention so we can create better patient and staff experiences, improve clinical outcomes and ultimately improve flow by reducing delayed discharges.”

The IPS is the premier professional organisation in Europe for nurses involved in infection prevention and control.

Jennie Wilson, IPS President, added: “IPS is delighted to be able to work in collaboration with Sodexo and Tork in making the Environment, Cleaning and Decontamination Programme available to IPS members along with cleaning managers, facilities managers and those responsible for decontamination. This programme, which commences on 23rd November in Northampton, is the first in a series of educational events in this critical arena. It has been designed to keep practitioners up to date in vital infection prevention areas.

“Environmental cleaning has always been a critical component in driving excellent patient satisfaction outcomes from both an aesthetic and infection prevention perspective. The IPS Environment, Cleaning and Decontamination Programme is aimed at staff at the front line who deliver on the high standards required, and IPS is pleased to be offering this educational series in association with Sodexo and Tork.”

Thomas Bergin, Marketing Director, Healthcare for Essity’s professional hygiene business, said: “Tork is proud to partner with IPS and co-sponsor Sodexo for this important new educational pillar. The programme will offer the Infection prevention community a platform to collaborate, share and learn advanced skills in environment, cleaning and decontamination – including support for effective surface cleaning and hand hygiene.

“As part of the global hygiene and health company Essity, we are passionate about helping reduce healthcare associated infections to achieve positive patient outcomes through training, continual innovation and correct product systems to create efficiencies in patient care and patient wellbeing.”