Join the next online Infectious Diseases Special Interest Group, this SIG will focus on Care Homes and COVID-19: Infection control strategies and innovations.
This event is in partnership with De Montfort University and led by Dr Katie Laird, Reader in Microbiology and also Head of the Infectious Disease Research Group at De Montfort University. Presentations will be given on:
– Ventilation requirements in care homes – strategies during and after COVID-19
– Infection control and zoning in care homes
– Ozone as an alternative to thermal disinfection of healthcare linen
Please see speaker details and biographies at the bottom of this page, in addition to our main speakers we shall also be hearing a short 5 minute presentation from:
– Paul Lymer, Business Manager PCR & Veterinary of HORIBA UK, as he shares Pockit iiPCR Analyser from HORIBA Medical – On-site Testing for Covid-19
DURATION: 1.5 hours
This free to attend event is held as part of the SoLSTICE programme – a project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, click here to be re-directed to further information about the project. This event is classed as State Aid to participating businesses, the value of which is £190, but is delivered completely free of charge to participants.
Speaker Profiles:
Dr Katie Laird, Head of the Infectious Disease Research Group at Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University
Katie has a BSc (Hons) in Biology and obtained a PhD in applied microbiology in 2008. During her PhD she developed and patented an essential oil based antimicrobial vapour, whilst her postdoctoral work included the assessment of natural antimicrobials efficacy against post-harvest pathogens.
Her research interests include the use of natural products as antimicrobials in particular to combat hospital acquired infections and biofilms. Her other area of research includes the assessment of healthcare laundry as a potential route of cross contamination in the clinical arena.
Eric Fewster, Water & Environmental Manager, BushProof
Eric Fewster has 24 years of hands-on operational experience as a water supply and sanitation specialist in the design, implementation and evaluation of water & sanitation projects in both emergencies and development situations, with the ability to understand the local context and constraints inherent in low-income countries. In 2005 he co-founded BushProof, an award-winning for-profit business based in Madagascar which is involved in water supply provision. In terms of experience with infectious diseases, in 2011 he set up cholera treatment centres in Haiti and in 2014 was the water/sanitation lead for an Ebola management centre in Sierra Leone. Around the time lockdown began in the spring 2020, when cases in care homes was increasingly evident from other countries like Spain and Belgium, he decided to help produce some pragmatic guidance for care homes on preventing and controlling infection of SARS-CoV-2 in the care home context. Since it first went online in mid-April, it has since informed the advice given by the British Geriatric Society and Care Quality Commission, and it has been continually updated and expanded, using the experience of a wide range of co-contributors with different experiences.
Shrien Dewani, Director, Evolve Care Group
Initially qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, Shrien quickly fell in love with Health and Social Care back in 2004. Shrien co leads Evolve Care Group with Eve Carder as well as `Evolve Care Academy and Connections Count Social movement.
Shrien’s interest has long been in creating care packages that recognise the importance of an individuals emotional needs as well as their physical safety needs. This has led to design and implementation of the Evolve Household model of care. The foundation of small group living has been instrumental in the creation of strict zoning within Evolve services, which together with a wider robust infection control strategy has supported containment and elimination of the COVID 19.
Eve Carder, Clinical Director, Evolve Care Group
Having worked in care homes since the age of 16, Eve truly lives and breathes Care Home life. After completing Nursing at Nottingham University, Eve set about challenging the design of the model of care in the settings where she worked. After a short stint at Dementia Care Matters as Deputy CEO, Eve took the post as National Clinical Director at Evolve Care Group.
Under Eve’s Clinical Leadership Evolve Services have designed and implemented a model of care based upon international best practice research and have been recognised for the outstanding outcomes they achieve. At the start of the pandemic Eve’s COVID 19 manual was used by a number of Care Homes in England and Wales to assist in the creation of protective strategies. This work has been used to contribute to Bushproof and British Geriatrics Society and to consult with Public Health Wales on their Care Homes risk matrix.
Jackie Hook, Head Chemist, JLA Ltd
Jackie is a Charted Chemist, Member of the Healthcare Infection Society (HIS) and Infection Prevention Society (IPS). She is also a member of the IPS Care Home Specialist Interest Group. Previous to her engaging in the laundry and ozone industry Jackie spent 25 years in Research & Development for the UK Railway Industry in a range of scientific disciplines. She was an active member of a professional forum introducing new technologies into the railway environment. She joined JLA Ltd. in 2004 and is active in laboratory and site testing, and compilation of training and health/safety procedural documentation, coordinating and liaising with leading professional bodies and institutes. Her responsibilities include Investigating and assisting in new developments relating to laundry and ozone technologies. Working closely with microbiologists and healthcare professionals Jackie has contributed to the introduction of ozone laundry systems into the UK. Project managing including wash program development and microbiological investigation at a number of field trials including the QE2 hospital in Welwyn Garden City and Woodend Hospital Laundry, Aberdeen to demonstrate and document the benefits of ozone. Work involving in vitro and clinical studies has led to ozone laundry disinfection finally receiving recognition by the UK’s Department of Health under the guise of the Rapid Review Panel in September 2009. Jackie is also active in promoting training and education within the laundry industry and is passionate in increasing the awareness and importance of adequate disinfection of healthcare linen.
