CDI outbreak reporting
Vale of Leven Inquiry · The Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report · Issued 24 November 2014 · Addressed to: NHS Health Boards (Scotland)
Source — verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
Health Boards should ensure that the nurse in charge of each ward reports suspected outbreaks of CDI (as defined in local guidance) to the Infection Control Team.
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:
- The Scottish Government's response highlighted a robust HAI scrutiny regime across NHS Scotland, with the NIPCM providing clear guidance on outbreak identification and reporting procedures. The NIPCM requires that suspected outbreaks are reported to the Infection Control Team immediately (National Infection Prevention and Control Manual for Scotland (https://www.nipcm.hps.scot.nhs.uk/about-the-manual/)).
- National mandatory CDI surveillance in Scotland, started in 2006, requires NHS boards to report CDI cases through national surveillance systems. ARHAI Scotland (formerly Health Protection Scotland) provides national epidemiological analysis.
- The HAI Standards require clear escalation procedures for suspected outbreaks, with the Infection Control Manager responsible for coordinating the response and reporting to the board.
Response — verbatim from government
●Scottish Government
Section 2.1 of the Scottish Government's response highlights a robust HAI scrutiny regime across NHS Scotland, which drives improvements in infection control and prevention practices. The National Infection Prevention and Control Manual, introduced in January 2012, provides NHS boards with guidance on evidence-based practice, monitoring, and scrutiny of infection prevention and control, which would include procedures for reporting suspected outbreaks.
Scottish Government · 18 Jun 2015 Written response →
Evidence trail — what's actually happened since
- 1 May 2022 · Healthcare Improvement Scotland HIS IPC Standards (2022) Standard 4 (Assurance and Monitoring) requires reporting of suspected outbreaks to IPC teams. NIPCM provides detailed outbreak management guidance including mandatory CDI outbreak reporting protocols. View source → Confirmed Completed
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.