Effective CDI patient isolation
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 there is effective isolation of any patient who is suspected of suffering from CDI, and that failure to isolate is reported to senior management.
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:
- Scottish Government policy requires all planned new-build hospitals to provide 100% single-room accommodation, significantly improving capacity for patient isolation. For refurbished accommodation, a minimum of 50% single rooms is required (Scottish Health Planning Note 04-01, October 2010).
- The NIPCM includes detailed guidance on patient isolation for CDI and other infections, including when isolation is required and how to manage it effectively (National Infection Prevention and Control Manual for Scotland (https://www.nipcm.hps.scot.nhs.uk/about-the-manual/)).
- The significant increase in single-room capacity across NHS Scotland directly supports the effective isolation of patients with CDI.
Response — verbatim from government
●Scottish Government
Section 3.1 of the Scottish Government's response addresses patient isolation through the requirement for all planned new-build hospitals to provide 100% single-room accommodation, and refurbished builds at least 50%. This measure significantly reduces the risk of patients contracting and passing on infection. Additionally, Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs) include "Patient placement in wards and bays" as a basic measure to reduce transmission risks.
Scottish Government · 18 Jun 2015 Written response →
Evidence trail — what's actually happened since
- 1 Jan 2008 · Scottish Government Scottish Government policy (CEL 48 2008) requires all planned new-build hospitals to provide 100% single-room accommodation. Refurbished buildings must accommodate at least 50% single rooms. 3.6m by 3.7m bed spacing requirement for multi-bed wards. View source → Good 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.