HAI implementation strategy
Vale of Leven Inquiry · The Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report · Issued 24 November 2014 · Addressed to: Scottish Government
Source — verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
Scottish Government should ensure that policies and guidance on healthcare associated infection are accompanied by an implementation strategy and that implementation is monitored.
Vale of Leven Inquiry, The Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report · 24 Nov 2014 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
Publicly available evidence relating to this recommendation:
- Revised Healthcare Associated Infection Standards were published by HIS in February 2015, which NHS boards adopted from May 2015. The standards were accompanied by an implementation framework specifying how compliance would be monitored through the HIS inspection programme.
- The National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM) for Scotland, first published on 13 January 2012 and relaunched on 11 July 2022, provides evidence-based practice guidance for all healthcare workers. Scotland was the first country to develop a national IPC manual, and it is accompanied by implementation support from ARHAI Scotland (National Infection Prevention and Control Manual for Scotland (https://www.nipcm.hps.scot.nhs.uk/about-the-manual/)).
- The Scottish HCAI Strategy 2023-2025 sets out the current strategic framework for reducing healthcare-associated infections, with implementation monitored through the HCAI Strategy Oversight Board chaired by the Chief Nursing Officer (Scottish HCAI Strategy 2023-2025 (https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-healthcare-associated-infection-hcai-strategy-2023-2025/)).
- The pattern of policy accompanied by implementation strategy and monitoring is now established practice in Scottish HAI governance.
Response — verbatim from government
●Scottish Government
Section 2.1 of the Scottish Government's response highlights that Revised Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Standards were published in February 2015, which NHS boards will adopt from May 2015, with performance against them forming part of HEI inspections. These standards are aligned with the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual, providing guidance on evidence-based practice, monitoring, quality assurance, and scrutiny. The response confirms a robust HAI scrutiny regime is in place across NHS Scotland to drive improvements in infection control and prevention practices.
Scottish Government · 18 Jun 2015 Written response →
Evidence trail — what's actually happened since
- 1 Mar 2025 · Scottish Government HAI Progress Report By June 2024 all 30 first-phase deliverables of the HCAI Strategy had been progressed with six identified as complete. NIPCM and Care Home IPCM are established and operational. Scotland's first Pathogen Genomic Strategic Plan published July 2024. View source → Good Progress
- 19 Jun 2023 · Scottish Government Scottish Government published successive HAI strategies: AMR/HAI 5-Year Strategic Framework 2016-2021 and HCAI Strategy 2023-2025. Implementation monitored through national governance structures. March 2025 progress report confirmed all 30 first-phase deliverables progressed with six complete. View source → Good Progress
- 1 Mar 2015 · Scottish Government Scottish Government developed HAI strategy for 2015-2020 with implementation monitoring. Over £65 million funding provided to tackle healthcare-associated infections between 2008 and 2013, including nearly £2 million annually for infection prevention and control personnel. View source → Reasonable Progress
Each entry above links to a primary source — gov.uk written statement, consultation response document, or inspection report. The Index does not characterise government intent; it tracks what has been published.
How this page is built
Source and Response are verbatim from primary documents. The Evidence trail records published activity since — written statements, consultation outcomes, inspection findings, parliamentary references. The Index does not paraphrase or characterise intent; it tracks what has been published. Where the evidence is the absence of action (a missed deadline, a slipped timetable), that absence is documented from primary sources rather than inferred.
This recommendation's data is verified periodically against primary sources. The Index is monitored for staleness weekly.