New plans have been unveiled that will see doctors’ surgeries in Wales targeted in a bid to limit the number of people who bring infections such as Clostridium difficile into hospitals.
The Welsh Assembly said the proposals are part of a raft of measures to tackle pathogens commonly associated with hospitals in the community.
Under the scheme GPs, dentists, nursing homes and physiotherapists will be issued with guidance to ensure their staff realise the risks of infection.
And they will be asked to audit outbreaks so they can make sure proper control measures are introduced.
Health minister Edwina Hart said that while progress has been made in dealing with bugs inside hospitals, more needs to be done.
She said: “We need to do all we can to reduce the number of people with infections entering hospitals in the first place.
“The guidance will be aimed at a wide range of individuals and organisations that provide healthcare in the community and includes a range of actions that healthcare organisations and professionals can take to stop patients, residents and healthcare workers from becoming infected as a result of receiving care in the community.”
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