After five years of working with and supporting the NHS, the Targeted Support Team, the improvement arm of the Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI) Division in the Department of Health has closed.

The HCAI policy team will continue to lead on this area. They will engage with SHAs through the SHA HCAI Leads Forum to support the NHS to carry on the good work and continue to reduce infections at a local level.

Moving forward, reducing HCAIs remain a key concern for the Coalition. The revised NHS Operating Framework for 2010-11 made clear we must pursue a zero tolerance approach to avoidable infections and that NHS organisations should deliver continuous improvement.

We are currently refining content and information with the aim that everyone will know how they can locally reduce infections and con tinue the success the NHS has demonstrated to date in tackling this issue.

The NHS is committed to providing clean, safe care to patients with privacy and dignity. A raft of revised resources and tools will soon be made available so organisations and those committed to reducing infection can continue their professional duty. Once finalised, detail of this information, and its location will be shared.

For further enquiries, please email reducinghcai@dh.gsi.gov.uk

www.clean-safe-care.nhs.uk