Written question WQ98762

The Welsh Government has issued robust guidance that sets clear expectations to ensure the effective prevention and control of infection across all health and social care settings in Wales. This applies to all wards in all hospitals.

This includes the ‘Infection Prevention and Control Quality Statement’, published in early 2026, which sets national expectations for health boards, NHS trusts and commissioned services. It requires our NHS organisations to prevent avoidable healthcare-associated infections, deliver care in clean and safe environments, and implement infection prevention and control practices, supported by robust governance and continuous improvement arrangements.

The Welsh Government’s ‘Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections’ established the statutory standards that all NHS organisations must meet. The Code emphasises that infection prevention and control is the responsibility of all staff and requires organisations to embed effective systems, policies and procedures to minimise infection risk.

These overarching requirements are supported by a range of national standards and guidance, including the ‘NHS Wales National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness’, which set out approaches to environmental cleaning and decontamination.

Wales has adopted the ‘National Infection Prevention and Control Manual’, which provides standardised, evidence-based procedures for healthcare settings, including standard infection control precautions and transmission-based precautions. This ensures consistent practice across NHS Wales.

Further supporting guidance, such as ‘Welsh Health Technical Memoranda’ and related estate and facilities guidance, ensures that healthcare environments are designed and maintained to minimise infection risks, including through appropriate ventilation, isolation facilities and decontamination processes.

Together, these measures provide a clear national framework to support safe, high-quality care and to reduce the risk of infection for patients, staff and the public.

All standards and guidance are subject to continuous review, in accordance with best practice.