Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the covid-19 outbreak, whether his Department plans to review the long-term infection prevention and control measures required by intensive care units; and what assessment he has made of the provisions required to minimise the risk of hospital-acquired infections once the covid-19 outbreak has subsided; and if he will make a statement.

There are no specific plans to review the long-term infection prevention and control measures in intensive care units (ITU). However, as outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan and in the ‘UK 5-year action plan for antimicrobial resistance 2019 to 2024’, there is a commitment to publish a National Infection Prevention Manual for England that will contain guidelines for infection prevention and control best practice across healthcare settings. All National Health Service providers will be expected to deliver care to the standards outlined in this guidance.