Guidance and Publications
Published on 01 September 2023
The Clinical Assurance programme provides clinical and infection prevention and control (IPC) expertise to the work undertaken by the NHSScotland’s Assure (NHSSA) Assurance service. This includes Key Stage Assurance Reviews (KSAR) which focus on ensuring infection prevention and control is a key consideration for healthcare construction projects.
There are five key stages within a construction project where a KSAR will be undertaken. The KSAR workbooks are used at each stage in the lifecycle.
- Outline Business Case (OBC)
- Full Business Case (FBC)
- Construction
- Commissioning and
- Handover
The Clinical Assurance programme uses intelligence gathered from construction projects, KSAR reviews and built environment enquiries to develop resources to assist health boards during construction projects whether they are new builds or refurbishments.
- Key Stage Assurance Review (KSAR): Notes for Board IPC Teams document to navigate the KSAR process was developed following IPC stakeholder engagement events which highlighted the need for additional information to support NHS board IPC teams through healthcare construction projects and KSAR.
Clinical wash hand basins
Clinical wash hand basins (CWHB) are found in all healthcare facilities for the purpose of hand washing only. However, these are often incorrectly used as a disposal route for patients wash water, beverages such as tea, coffee, sugary drinks, and medications. These normally harmless fluids can provide a food source for bacteria within the sink drain or taps.
The Clinical Assurance and NES team produced an educational animation regarding CWHBs, their intended purpose, water associated infection risks, and what we all can do together to reduce the risk. The animation is supported by a poster for use beside CWHBs to locally promote good practice for health and care staff as well as the general public who may visit those settings.
Good practice for clinical wash hand basins use: key messaging of the animation is to only wash hands in the CWHS, not to dispose of any waste down the sink and allow access for routine cleaning and maintenance. The animation can be found on TURAS - Healthcare Built Environment Educational Resources.
An instructive clinical wash hand basin poster which supports the messaging of the animation. A QR code is embedded in the poster and takes staff directly to the animation.