Infection Prevention and Control Awareness
Organisation: WMI Psychiatry Ltd
Audience: Administrative and non-clinical staff
Version: 2.0
Review date: 1 January 2027
Training type: Mandatory annual e-learning
Estimated completion time: 35–45 minutes
1. Introduction
Infection prevention and control is everyone’s responsibility.
Although administrative staff do not usually provide clinical treatment, they work in environments used by patients, families, clinicians and other visitors. They may touch shared equipment, arrange appointments for people who are unwell, identify problems with cleanliness or encounter unexpected situations involving blood or other bodily fluids.
Simple measures such as effective hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, appropriate cleaning, good ventilation and prompt reporting can reduce the risk of infection spreading.
This module focuses on the responsibilities of non-clinical staff working in an outpatient mental health service. It does not train administrative staff to carry out clinical procedures or undertake specialist cleaning.
Administrative staff should work within their competence and escalate any situation they are not trained or equipped to manage.
2. Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module, learners should be able to:
Explain how infections can spread within an outpatient clinic.
Apply appropriate hand and respiratory hygiene measures.
Recognise when shared surfaces or equipment require cleaning.
Respond safely when a patient, visitor or colleague may have an infectious illness.
Take appropriate action if blood, vomit or another bodily fluid is found.
Understand the limited circumstances in which personal protective equipment may be required.
Report infection-control concerns, incidents and shortages promptly.
Describe their responsibilities when WMI Psychiatry uses shared or hired premises.
3. Why Infection Prevention Matters
Infections may spread wherever people share rooms, equipment and facilities.
In an outpatient clinic, possible routes of transmission include:
Contaminated hands.
Coughing and sneezing.
Frequently touched surfaces.
Shared equipment.
Food and drink.
Blood and bodily fluids.
Poorly ventilated rooms.
Inadequately managed waste.
Staff attending work while infectious.
Children, older people, pregnant people and people with some physical health conditions may be more vulnerable to infection or its complications. Not every vulnerability will be visible or disclosed to the clinic.
Administrative staff should therefore use appropriate precautions consistently rather than attempting to decide who may or may not be infectious.
CQC Regulation 12 requires providers to assess and manage risks to people receiving care. Regulation 15 requires premises and equipment to be clean, suitable and maintained to an appropriate standard of hygiene. These responsibilities remain relevant when services are delivered from shared or hired premises.
4. Understanding the Chain of Infection
For an infection to spread, several factors usually need to be present:
An infectious organism, such as a virus or bacterium.
A source where the organism can live.
A way for the organism to leave the source.
A route by which it can spread.
A way for it to enter another person.
A person who is susceptible to the infection.
Infection-control measures interrupt this chain.
For example:
Handwashing removes organisms from the hands.
Covering coughs and sneezes reduces the release of respiratory droplets.
Cleaning removes contamination from surfaces.
Ventilation dilutes infectious particles in the air.
Staying away from the workplace when infectious reduces opportunities for transmission.
Appropriate personal protective equipment creates a barrier against exposure.
Administrative staff are not expected to identify the exact organism involved. The aim is to recognise possible risks and take proportionate precautions.
5. Standard Precautions
Standard precautions are basic measures used to reduce the risk of infection, regardless of whether a particular infection has been identified.
For administrative staff, these include:
Keeping hands clean.
Covering cuts and broken skin with waterproof dressings.
Following good respiratory hygiene.
Keeping the working environment visibly clean.
Cleaning shared equipment appropriately.
Avoiding direct contact with blood and bodily fluids.
Using personal protective equipment only when indicated and when trained to do so.
Managing waste safely.
Reporting spills, sharps and other hazards promptly.
Following the clinic’s policies and local arrangements.
A person may be infectious before they develop symptoms. It is therefore not sufficient to use precautions only when someone is known to have an infection.
6. Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of infection.
When should administrative staff clean their hands?
Hands should be cleaned:
After using the toilet.
Before eating or handling food.
After coughing, sneezing or blowing the nose.
After contact with respiratory secretions.
After handling waste.
After removing disposable gloves.
After touching blood or bodily fluids, even if gloves were worn.
After cleaning contaminated surfaces.
Before and after providing basic first aid, if trained to do so.
Whenever hands are visibly dirty.
At other times required by a risk assessment or local procedure.
It is not necessary to clean the hands after every routine interaction with a patient. Hand hygiene should be proportionate to the activity and the risk of contamination.
Washing hands with soap and water
Soap and water should be used when hands are visibly dirty or contaminated, after using the toilet and when diarrhoea or vomiting illnesses are suspected.
Hands should be washed for approximately 20 seconds:
Wet the hands with water.
Apply enough liquid soap to cover all hand surfaces.
Rub the palms together.
Clean the backs of both hands.
Clean between the fingers.
Clean the backs of the fingers.
Clean both thumbs.
Rub the fingertips into the opposite palm.
Rinse thoroughly.
Dry completely using a disposable paper towel where available.
Use the paper towel to turn off a manually operated tap, where appropriate.
Effective drying is important because wet hands can transfer organisms more easily than dry hands.
Alcohol-based hand sanitiser
Alcohol-based hand sanitiser may be used when hands are not visibly dirty and washing facilities are not immediately available.
It should be applied to all surfaces of the hands and rubbed in until dry.
Hand sanitiser is not a complete substitute for handwashing. In particular, alcohol hand gel may be less effective against organisms associated with gastroenteritis, including norovirus. Soap and water should be used when diarrhoea or vomiting illnesses are suspected.
Skin care
Frequent handwashing may cause dryness or irritation. Staff should use an appropriate moisturiser and report significant skin problems.
Cuts and abrasions should be covered with a waterproof dressing.
7. Respiratory and Cough Hygiene
Respiratory infections can spread through coughing, sneezing, contaminated hands and particles in the air.
Everyone should be encouraged to:
Cover the nose and mouth with a disposable tissue when coughing or sneezing.
Put the used tissue into a waste bin promptly.
Clean their hands afterwards.
Cough or sneeze into the inner elbow if a tissue is unavailable.
Avoid coughing or sneezing directly into the hands.
Avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth with unclean hands.
Keep an appropriate distance from others when experiencing respiratory symptoms.
This is sometimes described as:
Catch it. Bin it. Kill it.
The clinic should have access to tissues, waste bins and hand-hygiene facilities.
Administrative staff should respond sensitively if someone is coughing or appears unwell. They should not embarrass the person or make assumptions about the cause of their symptoms.
A suitable response may be:
“I can see that you are coughing. There are tissues and hand sanitiser available here. I’ll also let the clinician know so that we can make sure the appointment is managed safely.”
8. Ventilation
Good ventilation can reduce the concentration of infectious respiratory particles in indoor air.
Where it is safe and appropriate, staff should:
Use rooms with suitable ventilation.
Open windows between appointments where possible.
Follow the building’s instructions for ventilation systems.
Avoid blocking ventilation grilles.
Report rooms that feel persistently stuffy or poorly ventilated.
Balance ventilation with comfort, confidentiality and safety.
Fire doors must not be propped open to improve ventilation.
Windows should not be opened if doing so would create another significant risk, such as a safety, security or safeguarding risk. This is particularly relevant in mental health settings.
9. Cleaning the Environment
A visibly clean environment supports safe and dignified care.
Administrative staff may not be responsible for routine cleaning, but they should understand the clinic’s arrangements and report concerns promptly.
High-touch surfaces
Frequently touched surfaces may include:
Door handles.
Light switches.
Reception counters.
Chair arms.
Taps and toilet flushes.
Shared telephones.
Computer keyboards and mice.
Card payment devices.
Pens and clipboards.
Intercoms.
Shared toys or sensory items.
The cleaning frequency should reflect how often an item is used, how many people touch it and the likelihood of contamination.
Shared office equipment
Shared equipment should be kept visibly clean. Staff should follow the manufacturer’s instructions, particularly for electronic equipment.
Cleaning liquid should not be sprayed directly onto electrical equipment unless the manufacturer specifically permits this. An appropriate product should usually be applied to a cloth or wipe first.
Staff should not use unapproved products or mix cleaning chemicals.
Toys, sensory items and patient resources
If toys or sensory items are provided:
They should be suitable for cleaning.
Visibly dirty items should be removed from use.
Shared items should be cleaned at an appropriate frequency and between users where indicated.
Soft or difficult-to-clean items should be avoided if they cannot be managed safely.
Items that have been placed in a person’s mouth should be removed from circulation until cleaned appropriately.
Cleaning schedules
Cleaning arrangements should identify:
What needs to be cleaned.
How it should be cleaned.
Which product should be used.
How frequently cleaning is required.
Who is responsible.
How concerns or missed cleaning will be reported.
Staff should not assume that another organisation will manage a problem simply because the clinic is using hired or shared premises.
10. Shared and Hired Premises
WMI Psychiatry may provide appointments from premises owned or managed by another organisation.
The premises provider may be responsible for routine building cleaning, waste collection and maintenance. However, WMI Psychiatry retains responsibility for ensuring that the premises used for its regulated activities are safe, clean and suitable.
Before using a room, staff should remain alert to:
Visible dirt or contamination.
Overflowing waste bins.
A lack of soap, paper towels, toilet paper or hand sanitiser.
Poor ventilation.
Damaged furniture or surfaces that cannot be cleaned properly.
Used clinical items left in the room.
Blood, vomit or other bodily fluid contamination.
Evidence that the room has not been cleaned after a previous user.
If a room is not suitable:
Do not ignore the problem.
Prevent access to the affected area if necessary.
Contact the building’s responsible person or reception team.
Inform the WMI clinician, Registered Manager or Nominated Individual.
Move the appointment if this can be done safely.
Record the concern through the appropriate reporting system when indicated.
If a room cannot be made safe, it should not be used.
11. Staff Illness
Staff should not attend work if doing so would create an avoidable infection risk.
Staff must inform their line manager as soon as possible if they:
Have diarrhoea or vomiting.
Have symptoms of a significant respiratory infection and feel too unwell to work.
Have been advised by a healthcare professional or public health service to remain away from work.
Have been diagnosed with an infection that may be relevant to their workplace.
Have had an occupational exposure requiring medical advice.
As a general public-health principle, a person with diarrhoea or vomiting should not return until at least 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped. Individual circumstances may require different or additional advice.
Staff should not attend the clinic simply because they feel pressure to avoid cancelling appointments. Working remotely may be considered where the person is well enough, the work is suitable and this has been agreed with their manager.
Health information should be handled confidentially. Only information necessary to manage the risk should be shared.
12. Patients or Visitors Who May Be Infectious
Administrative staff should not diagnose infections. Their role is to gather limited practical information, reduce immediate risks and escalate appropriately.
If a patient or family member reports symptoms before attending, staff should:
Ask only the questions necessary to manage the appointment.
Avoid giving medical advice outside their role.
Inform the relevant clinician.
Consider whether a remote appointment or rearrangement may be appropriate.
Follow any clinician or manager instructions.
Record the decision appropriately.
Relevant symptoms may include:
Vomiting or diarrhoea.
Fever.
A new or worsening cough.
A significant sore throat.
A new unexplained rash.
Symptoms of a known infectious illness.
Feeling too unwell to attend safely.
Appointments should not automatically be cancelled solely because someone has a mild cough or cold. The decision should take account of the clinical need, available alternatives, the person’s wellbeing and the infection risk.
If someone becomes unwell while at the clinic:
Inform the clinician promptly.
Move the person away from crowded areas if safe and appropriate.
Offer tissues and access to hand hygiene.
Maintain the person’s dignity and confidentiality.
Arrange additional cleaning where required.
Seek urgent medical assistance if the person appears seriously unwell.
Call 999 if there is an immediate threat to life.
13. Personal Protective Equipment
Administrative staff do not usually require personal protective equipment for their routine work.
PPE does not replace hand hygiene, cleaning or safe working practices.
Disposable gloves and an apron may be appropriate when there is a foreseeable risk of contact with blood or bodily fluids, but only if the staff member:
Has been trained for the task.
Has access to the correct equipment.
Is acting within their role and competence.
Can dispose of the equipment safely.
Understands the action required after removing it.
Gloves must not be:
Worn routinely for reception duties.
Used instead of handwashing.
Washed or reused.
Worn while moving between clean and contaminated tasks.
Used to touch telephones, keyboards or door handles after a contaminated task.
Hands should be cleaned after gloves are removed.
If an administrator has not been trained to deal with bodily fluids, the correct response is to prevent access to the area and obtain assistance—not to attempt the cleaning.
14. Blood and Bodily Fluid Spillages
Blood, vomit, urine, faeces and other bodily fluids may contain infectious organisms.
Administrative staff should not attempt to clean a bodily fluid spillage unless this forms part of their trained and authorised duties.
If a spillage occurs:
Keep patients, children and visitors away from the affected area.
Do not touch the substance with bare hands.
Inform the relevant clinician, building staff or trained person.
Use the premises’ bodily fluid spillage procedure.
Ensure that appropriate cleaning products and PPE are used.
Report and record the incident where required.
Clean the hands after any involvement.
A suitable bodily fluid spillage kit should be accessible where required by the risk assessment. Cleaning products must be used according to their instructions, including any specified contact time.
Staff must never mix cleaning products. Mixing some products can release dangerous gases.
Standard vacuum cleaners, reusable mops or ordinary cloths should not be used on a bodily fluid spill unless the relevant procedure specifically allows this.
15. Needles and Other Sharps
WMI Psychiatry does not routinely administer medication or store clinical sharps at its outpatient locations. However, a needle or sharp item might occasionally be found on or near shared premises.
If a discarded needle or sharp item is found:
Do not touch it.
Do not attempt to pick it up by hand.
Do not bend, break or recap a needle.
Keep other people away from the area.
Notify the building manager or other responsible person immediately.
Inform the Registered Manager or Nominated Individual.
Ensure that it is removed by someone trained and equipped to do so.
Record the incident when required.
If a person sustains a needlestick injury or is exposed to blood through broken skin, the eyes, nose or mouth:
Encourage a puncture wound to bleed gently.
Wash the area with soap and warm running water.
Do not scrub or suck the wound.
Rinse the eyes or mouth with plenty of water if exposed.
Cover a wound with a waterproof dressing.
Seek urgent medical advice through the appropriate emergency department or occupational health route.
Inform the Registered Manager or Nominated Individual immediately.
Complete the required incident documentation.
Exposure incidents require prompt assessment and should not be left until the next working day.
16. Waste Management
Routine office waste can usually be placed in the appropriate general or recycling bin.
Staff should:
Use the correct waste stream.
Avoid placing used PPE in recycling.
Avoid pushing waste down into a bin with their hands.
Report leaking or overflowing bins.
Keep waste away from children.
Follow the premises’ arrangements for confidential, hazardous and clinical waste.
Never place needles or sharp items into an ordinary waste bin.
Waste contaminated with bodily fluids may require different handling. Staff should follow the local procedure and seek advice if unsure.
17. Food and Drink
Staff should:
Clean their hands before eating or preparing food.
Keep food preparation areas clean.
Store food safely.
Avoid eating at desks where contamination may be present.
Clean shared kitchen equipment after use.
Dispose of spoiled food.
Avoid sharing cups, bottles or eating utensils.
Keep patient-identifiable information away from food and drink areas.
Staff experiencing vomiting or diarrhoea must not prepare food for other people.
18. Confidentiality and Respect
Infection-control concerns must be managed without stigma or unnecessary disclosure.
Staff should not:
Discuss a person’s symptoms where others can hear.
Put signs on a room that reveal someone’s diagnosis.
Tell other patients that a named person has an infection.
Make assumptions about someone’s hygiene, lifestyle or behaviour.
Treat someone less favourably because of an infection or suspected infection.
Information should be shared only with people who need it to protect the individual or others.
Reasonable adjustments may be required. For example, some autistic people may find the smell or feel of hand sanitiser intolerable. Where possible, an alternative such as access to soap and water should be offered.
19. Reporting Concerns and Incidents
Administrative staff should report:
Inadequate cleaning.
Missing soap, paper towels or other hygiene supplies.
Bodily fluid spillages.
Discarded needles or sharps.
Exposure to blood or bodily fluids.
Repeated problems with ventilation.
Overflowing or incorrectly managed waste.
Suspected clusters of illness connected with the clinic.
A failure to follow infection-control procedures.
Any situation that caused or could have caused harm.
Urgent risks should be reported immediately and should not wait for the routine incident-reporting process.
Internal escalation
Registered Manager: Caroline Lawrence
Nominated Individual: Dr James Glass
Incident reporting: WMI Psychiatry Incident Reporting System
Current policies and procedures: WMI Psychiatry Google Drive
Where the clinic is operating from shared premises, the concern may also need to be reported to the premises manager. Reporting it externally does not replace internal escalation within WMI Psychiatry.
20. Outbreaks and Clusters of Illness
An outbreak may be suspected when two or more people develop similar symptoms connected by time or place, although the exact definition depends on the infection and circumstances.
Administrative staff are not expected to declare an outbreak.
They should promptly notify the Registered Manager or Nominated Individual if they become aware that:
Several staff members have similar symptoms.
Several patients or family members report illness after attending the clinic.
A premises provider reports an outbreak affecting the building.
A patient or visitor attended while known to have a significant infectious illness.
There is an unusual pattern that may require further advice.
Management may need to:
Seek advice from the local UKHSA Health Protection Team.
Review whether face-to-face appointments should continue.
Increase cleaning.
Inform people who may have been affected.
Review staff attendance.
Complete incident or regulatory reporting.
Preserve confidentiality while communicating relevant precautions.
Staff should not send mass communications or contact public-health services on behalf of the clinic unless authorised to do so.
21. Practical Scenarios
Scenario 1: A patient reports vomiting overnight
A parent telephones to say that their child vomited several times overnight but feels somewhat better and wants to attend an assessment.
The administrator should not make a clinical decision independently. They should advise the parent not to attend until the matter has been reviewed, inform the clinician and consider whether the appointment can be rearranged or completed remotely.
Scenario 2: Blood is found on a chair
An administrator notices blood on the arm of a chair after a family has left.
The chair should be taken out of use or the area secured. The administrator should inform an appropriately trained person and follow the premises’ bodily fluid spillage procedure. It would not be appropriate to wipe the blood away with an ordinary tissue and continue using the chair.
Scenario 3: A consultation room is visibly dirty
A room booked at a shared site contains an overflowing bin and used tissues.
The administrator should report the concern to the premises provider and WMI clinician. The room should not be used until it has been cleaned or an alternative safe room has been identified.
Scenario 4: A colleague arrives with diarrhoea
The colleague explains that they do not want to let the team down and intend to work at reception.
They should speak to their manager and leave the clinic. In general, they should not return until at least 48 hours after the diarrhoea has stopped. Remote work may be considered if they are well enough and this is agreed.
Scenario 5: A used needle is found outside the building
The administrator should keep others away, contact the building manager or relevant local service and notify the Registered Manager or Nominated Individual. They should not pick it up or place it in a bin.
22. Key Points to Remember
Infection prevention and control is everyone’s responsibility.
Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent infections from spreading.
Soap and water should be used when hands are visibly dirty and when vomiting or diarrhoeal illness is suspected.
Good respiratory hygiene and ventilation reduce the spread of respiratory infections.
Administrative staff should identify and report cleaning problems even when premises are shared.
Administrative staff should not clean blood or bodily fluid spills unless trained and authorised.
Needles and other sharps must never be picked up by hand.
Staff should not attend the workplace when they present an avoidable infection risk.
Infection concerns should be handled sensitively and confidentially.
Urgent concerns should be escalated immediately.
Knowledge Check
Question 1
Which action is most effective when hands are visibly dirty?
A. Wiping the hands on a dry paper towel
B. Using perfume or deodorant
C. Washing with liquid soap and water
D. Putting on disposable gloves
Correct answer: C
Explanation: Soap and water physically remove dirt and infectious organisms. Hand sanitiser should not normally be used as a substitute when hands are visibly dirty.
Why the other answers are incorrect: A dry towel will not clean the hands adequately. Perfume and deodorant have no role in hand hygiene. Gloves placed on dirty hands do not remove contamination and may spread it to other surfaces.
Question 2
A patient vomits in the waiting area. What should an administrator do first?
A. Clean it immediately with ordinary tissues
B. Keep people away and obtain appropriately trained assistance
C. Cover it with a sheet of paper and continue working
D. Ask another patient to move the chairs
Correct answer: B
Explanation: The area should be secured to prevent exposure, and the clinic or premises’ bodily fluid spillage procedure should be followed by someone with the necessary training and equipment.
Why the other answers are incorrect: Ordinary tissues and routine cleaning products may be inadequate and could expose the administrator. Covering the spill does not control the risk. Patients should never be asked to manage a clinic hazard.
Question 3
Which statement about disposable gloves is correct?
A. Gloves remove the need to clean the hands
B. Gloves should be worn throughout every reception shift
C. Gloves can be washed and reused if they appear clean
D. Hands should be cleaned after gloves are removed
Correct answer: D
Explanation: Hands may become contaminated during glove removal or through unnoticed damage to the gloves. Hand hygiene remains necessary.
Why the other answers are incorrect: Gloves do not replace hand hygiene. Routine use at reception is unnecessary and may increase cross-contamination. Disposable gloves must not be washed or reused.
Question 4
A staff member’s last episode of diarrhoea was yesterday morning. They now feel well. What is the most appropriate response?
A. Return immediately because the symptoms have stopped
B. Return if they promise not to use the staff kitchen
C. Discuss this with their manager and remain away for the appropriate exclusion period
D. Attend work wearing disposable gloves
Correct answer: C
Explanation: A person with diarrhoea or vomiting should generally remain away until at least 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped. They should keep their manager informed and follow any additional advice.
Why the other answers are incorrect: Feeling better does not necessarily mean the person is no longer infectious. Avoiding the kitchen or wearing gloves does not adequately control the risk.
Question 5
What should you do if you find a discarded needle in a clinic car park?
A. Pick it up carefully by the plastic end
B. Place it in the nearest ordinary bin
C. Leave it without telling anyone
D. Keep people away and notify the appropriate responsible person
Correct answer: D
Explanation: A discarded sharp should be managed by someone who is trained and has suitable equipment. The area should be protected while assistance is obtained.
Why the other answers are incorrect: Picking up the needle creates a risk of injury. Ordinary bins are unsuitable for sharps. Leaving it unreported exposes other people to danger.
Question 6
Which is an example of good respiratory hygiene?
A. Coughing into the hands
B. Reusing the same tissue throughout the day
C. Coughing into the inner elbow when no tissue is available
D. Removing waste bins from the waiting area
Correct answer: C
Explanation: Coughing or sneezing into the inner elbow reduces contamination of the hands when a tissue is unavailable.
Why the other answers are incorrect: Coughing into the hands can contaminate surfaces. Used tissues should be discarded promptly. Suitable bins support safe respiratory hygiene.
Question 7
Who is responsible for identifying cleanliness concerns when WMI Psychiatry uses a hired room?
A. Only the building owner
B. Only the cleaning contractor
C. Everyone using the room, with concerns escalated through the correct route
D. Nobody, because the premises do not belong to WMI Psychiatry
Correct answer: C
Explanation: Although the premises provider may undertake routine cleaning, WMI Psychiatry must ensure that the rooms it uses are safe and suitable. Staff should identify and report concerns.
Why the other answers are incorrect: Responsibility cannot simply be transferred to a landlord or contractor. WMI staff should not ignore unsafe conditions.
Question 8
What should an administrator do if a caller says they have a fever and asks whether they should attend?
A. Diagnose the likely infection
B. Tell them that they definitely cannot attend
C. Gather limited relevant information and refer the decision to the clinician
D. Tell them to attend without informing anyone
Correct answer: C
Explanation: Administrative staff should not diagnose or make independent clinical decisions. They should obtain only the information required to manage the appointment and escalate it to the clinician.
Why the other answers are incorrect: Diagnosis is outside the administrative role. Automatic cancellation may not always be appropriate. Allowing attendance without informing the clinician may expose others to avoidable risk.
Question 9
Why should cleaning chemicals never be mixed?
A. It makes them less expensive
B. Some combinations can produce dangerous gases or reactions
C. It makes the room smell too clean
D. It prevents the containers from being recycled
Correct answer: B
Explanation: Mixing cleaning products can cause hazardous chemical reactions and release toxic gases. Products must be used in accordance with their instructions.
Why the other answers are incorrect: Cost, smell and recycling are not the main safety concern. The risk is potentially serious harm from the chemical reaction.
Question 10
Several patients report similar gastrointestinal symptoms after attending the clinic. What should the administrator do?
A. Investigate the cause independently
B. Post a warning on social media
C. Ignore it unless someone is admitted to hospital
D. Inform the Registered Manager or Nominated Individual promptly
Correct answer: D
Explanation: A cluster of similar illness may require management review and public-health advice. Administrative staff should record the information and escalate it promptly.
Why the other answers are incorrect: Administrators should not conduct an independent clinical investigation or publish information. Waiting for serious harm could delay necessary action.
Completion Declaration
I confirm that I have completed the WMI Psychiatry Infection Prevention and Control Awareness module.
I understand:
My responsibilities as a non-clinical member of staff.
The importance of hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, cleaning and ventilation.
That I should not undertake tasks for which I have not been trained.
How to report an infection-control concern or incident.
That urgent risks must be escalated immediately.
Name: ______________________________
Signature: ___________________________
Date: _______________________________
Further Reading
UKHSA: Preventing and controlling infections in children and young people’s settings
Health and Safety Executive: Preventing exposure to blood-borne viruses
WMI Psychiatry Infection Prevention and Control Policy
WMI Psychiatry Health and Safety Policy
WMI Psychiatry Incident Reporting Policy
