FIS 2021 – The role of sustainability, auditing and training in decontamination

The British Infection Association is hosting the Federation of Infection Societies 2021 Annual Conference (FIS 2021) in Manchester (5 November) and Online 8 and 9 November 2021.

FIS is the largest gathering of the UK infection community that includes societies, groups and individuals who are interested in all aspects of infection from basic science, clinical infection to infection prevention and control.

The conference will be an invaluable source of continuing professional development and an opportunity to network both in-person and virtually. All healthcare professionals, scientists and academics with an interest in infection are encouraged to attend to support multidisciplinary discussion of key infection topics.

The face-to-face day of the conference (5 November) will feature the FIS plenary lectures, networking opportunities, oral papers and exhibition.

The 2 online days (8 – 9 November) will comprise a 3-stream programme which includes sessions hosted by a broad selection of the infection community, online posters and sponsors’ area.

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Biographies of the speakers

Jimmy Walker (CSC Chair)

Jimmy worked for Public Health England as a scientific leader in water microbiology and decontamination, and managed a range of research projects on pathogens such as Legionella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Mycobacteria spp.  He collaborated closely with the Department of Health (DH England) and the Health and Safety Executive in writing and developing national and international guidance on the microbiology of water and decontamination in healthcare. He has an extensive publication record including his recently edited book “Decontamination in Hospitals and Healthcare”.   He has been involved in writing water guidance during COVID-19 and is contributing to a range of BSI committees. Jimmy is very proud to be the current the Chair of CSC and was previously the CSC Secretary (2011-2017).

Gill Ellis-Pow (Session Chair)

Biography:

Gill has been involved in decontamination for over 20years, starting with the Scottish National Audit headed by David Hurrell and Rosemary Simpson and has been the NHS Lothian Decontamination Lead since 2002. Previously Gill worked in the Theatre Suite at St John’s Hospital, Livingstone from 1989-2002 as a Charge Nurse and latterly as the Theatre Manager/Co-ordinator.  Gill was the Chair of the Scottish National Endoscopy Decontamination Working Group and is a member of the Scottish National CJD Working Group and RMD Decontamination Expert Group. Gill has been a member of the CSC since 2003 and has been a committee member twice; most recently for the past 2 years. She is also a member of the Institute of Decontamination Sciences, was Director of Communications/Editor of the Medical Device Decontamination Journal. Gill completed her BSc, with Distinction, in 2007 and then her Post-Graduate Diploma in Medical Device Decontamination 2011. She lives in Port Seton, has four boys, plays golf at Gullane Golf Club and is the Honorary Secretary of Gullane Ladies’ Golf Club.

Karren Staniforth (Moderator)

Biography:

Karren Staniforth is a Clinical Scientist, working in Microbiology and Infection Prevention.

Karren initially trained as a Biomedical Scientist in a series of diagnostic laboratories before developing her current role, as Scientific Lead for Infection Prevention and Control, at Nottingham University Hospitals, NHS Trust.

Over the last fifteen years Karren has developed specialist knowledge regarding the environmental and engineering aspects of infection prevention and control, within an acute healthcare facility.

Karren has served on the Central Sterilising Club Committee since 2015 and accepted the role of honorary secretary in April 2017.

Karren represents HIS at BSI, for CH/216: Chemical Disinfectants and Antiseptics and is also developing here role as Co-convenor for a range of HIS training courses which include a foundation course in hospital hygiene and specialist infection prevention and training relating to decontamination and specialist ventilation in healthcare premises.

Sarah Marshall (Presenter)

Biography: 

Sarah did her nursing degree over 20 years ago and has a variety of experience in nursing ranging from medical assessment wards, A&E, ITU and as a resuscitation officer. Sarah has been involved in endoscopy for almost 20 years working as an endoscopy nurse & senior sister before setting up the bowel cancer screening centre at St. Mark’s Hospital in 2006. She is currently the clinical general manager for Endoscopy and Bowel Cancer Screening and oversees the operational and clinical management across three hospital sites in North West London. Sarah joined JAG as a technical nurse assessor in 2017.  She is currently the Chair for the BSG (British Society Gastroenterology) Nurse Association (2019-2022) and Lead Nurse for JAG (2020-22).

Rose Gallagher (Presenter)  

Biography: 

Rose provides strategic leadership and specialist professional advice to the Royal College, its members and key stakeholders across the UK on Infection Prevention and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the implications for Nurses and Nursing.  Her portfolio also includes sustainability and she leads the College’s professional nursing activity on this. She has successfully led the RCN Glove Awareness Week and Small Changes Big Differences campaign focusing on procurement and use of consumables to influence sustainability in health and care settings.  Rose is scientific advisor to the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) on antimicrobial resistance and a member of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change Executive Committee.

Rose was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 90^th Birthdays Honours list for services to Infection Prevention and Control in her role at the Royal College.

Val O’Brien (Presenter)

Biography: 

Val’s career has taken a varied path, initially a teacher, then moving into the NHS where she spent 23 years in Sterile Services and General Management whilst also gaining an MSc.  She was seconded to NHS Estates initially to contribute to the CJD snapshot survey of the NHS in 1999, and then participating in the development of the National Decontamination Strategy, becoming the Principal Technical Lead (Decontamination). She worked on revisions of various Health Technical Memoranda, Health Building Note 13 for Sterile Service Departments and in the development of a National E-Learning Training program before moving into the private sector.  She has been Chairman of both the Institute of Decontamination Sciences and the Central Sterilising Club. Val is also a long-standing active member of BSI Standards Committee CH198 Sterilization and Associated Equipment and Processes and also a member of specific Decontamination related standards groups.  Val is currently working as an independent specialist healthcare consultant within the NHS.