CCG launches C. diff curbing scheme

East Riding of Yorkshire clinical commissioning group (CCG) has introduced a scheme to alert healthcare professionals of when a patient has been diagnosed with C. dificile (C. diff).

By giving patients a card when they have tested positive at hospital or in their GP surgery, the CCG aims to reduce the risk of contracting the potentially life threatening infection.

The card is designed to alert healthcare professionals in the community to their condition, to help them make better informed decisions when prescribing antibiotics or drugs that treat diarrhoea, which reduces risk of re-occurrence of the infection.

Carrying the C. diff card is voluntary and it is supported by personal contact from the City Health Care Partnership Community Infection Prevention & Control Team. It is hoped that, in addition to reducing infection rates, the C. diff Card will help local patients to take a more active role in decisions around their own care.

A number of launch events involving all stakeholders (GP practices, dentists, pharmacists, care homes) have taken place over the past two months to promote the use of the Card.

Dr. Gina Palumbo, chair of East Riding of Yorkshire CCG, said “The C. diff Card is a very welcome initiative that supports us as local clinicians to make decisions with our patients about their on-going health care. We hope it will make real difference to reducing the risks associated with C.diff in our area.”