The Infection Prevention Society (IPS) will host the second Environment, Cleaning, and Decontamination Conference (IPS ECD) in November 2022, co-sponsored by Tork, Essity’s global leading professional hygiene brand, and Sodexo Health & Care.
Following a highly successful 2021 event, the two organisations will be supporting the IPS in tackling fresh topics and introducing new experts at the one-day, face-to-face educational conference for healthcare practitioners.
The aim of the IPS ECD is to promote best practices in cleaning and decontamination in hospital and community environments, with the aim of preventing healthcare-associated infections. IPS ECD 22 is a free to attend event, open to infection prevention practitioners, with planned educational resources available throughout the year.
Lisa Butcher, IPS President and ECD Lead, said: “The event this year will build on the success from last year’s conference and the extremely positive feedback we received. It is clear that there is an appetite to further develop this educational pillar.
“A new working party with a wide depth of knowledge and experience has developed an exciting and practical programme to bring fresh ideas to the mix. We have a full agenda planned involving a wide range of contemporary and useful topics with keynote speakers.”
The speakers confirmed this year include Cath Noakes, Traci Gauci, David Jenkins, Nicole Stoesser, Heidi Barnard, and Mark Garvey who will be covering topics ranging from hospital design and ventilation to the challenge of balancing sustainability with hygiene.
Joining the working party is Niamh Whittome, Head of IPC for NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) covering the South East. Niamh started out as a surveillance nurse and has 20 years’ IPC experience.
Niamh commented: “I have a keen interest in continuous improvement in infection prevention, particularly concerning cleaning and decontamination and its important link to reducing HCAIs. I’m delighted to be part of the ECD education pillar and I look forward to sharing resources and materials in relation to this important project.”
Another new addition to the team of experts supporting the event is Graham Pike, Associate Director of IPC at Great Western Hospital, Swindon, who has extensive experience working in general medicine.
Graham explained: “The themes associated with the IPS ECD educational pillar are such a fundamental part of how we should be preventing infection – but knowledge around them feels lacking. I’m keen to be a part of the IPS ECD pillar in the hope that together we can change that.”
Simon Lilley, Director of Strategy at Sodexo Health & Care, added: “We are delighted to continue as co-sponsor with Essity for this important event. The 2022 event has been designed to help healthcare practitioners develop their expertise, reduce preventable infections in healthcare settings and create safer environments. This supports our aim to create better patient and staff experiences, improve clinical outcomes, and ultimately improve patient flow by reducing delayed discharges.”
Thomas Bergin, Essity’s Marketing Director – Healthcare, concluded: “We are looking forward to another great year in partnership with the IPS and Sodexo to sponsor this important IPS educational pillar. Working together to provide valuable resources and further learning relating to cleaning and decontamination in a healthcare environment is proven to be very popular and much needed. It’s rewarding to be able to support and organise an annual event that provides both networking and collaborative dialogue with academic subject matter experts and IPS members.”
IPS ECD 22 will be held on 22 November for IPC practitioners. For more information, please click here for registration information.
