Skip to main content

FOI 2024 004 - IPC Guidelines

 

Information Requested:

  1. What version of the IPC guidelines was in place in hospitals in Wales in Oct 2020? 

  1. Were these guidelines being followed by ABUHB? 

  1. What version of the staff Covid testing policy/guidelines was in place in Wales in Oct 2020? 

  1. What version of the patient Covid testing policy/guidelines was in place in Wales in Oct 2020? 

  1. What date did hospitals in Wales start regular Covid testing of asymptomatic staff? 

  1. What date did ABUHB start regular Covid testing of asymptomatic staff? 

  1. What date did hospitals in Wales start regular Covid testing of asymptomatic patients? 

  1. What was the frequency of the regular testing? 

  1. What was the Covid testing policy/guidelines in place for patients exposed to Covid on their ward in Oct 2020? 

 

Information provided for the answer:

Thank you for your request dated 5th January 2024. 

 

The COVID-19 Guidelines that were in place for use by healthcare services in Wales in October 2020 agreed on a four nations (UK) basis are available in the National Archives at: 
[ARCHIVED CONTENT] COVID-19: infection prevention and control (IPC) - GOV.UK (nationalarchives.gov.uk) 

 

Welsh government published the COVID testing policy and the policy/guidance on testing of asymptomatic patients. The Health Boards determined their local response and timing to this policy/guidance. 

 

The date that different hospitals commenced regular staff testing was determined by the local Health Boards within the policy/guidance framework set by Welsh Government. 

 

Public Health Wales is the public health service for Wales and as such is an independent NHS Trust. Therefore, do not have access to this information. As an organisation we have no jurisdiction over the activities of Health Boards and other organisations and frequently do not have access to the data that they produce. I have provided contact details for each Health Board and Welsh Government below, you would need to contact them individually for the information they hold.  

 

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board: 

http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/866/page/39187  

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board: 

http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/861/page/39134 

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board: 

http://www.cardiffandvaleuhb.wales.nhs.uk/freedom-of-information-new   

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board: 

https://cwmtafmorgannwg.wales/foi/ 

Swansea Bay University Health Board:  

https://sbuhb.nhs.wales/about-us1/foia/  

Hywel Dda University Health Board: 

http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/862/page/52085  

Powys Teaching Health Board: 

http://www.powysthb.wales.nhs.uk/freedom-of-information 

Welsh Government:

Requesting information from the Welsh Government (FOI requests) | GOV.WALES 

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of the decision, you should write to the Corporate Complaints Manager, Public Health Wales NHS Trust, 3, Number 2, Capital Quarter, Tyndall Street, Cardiff, CF10 4BZ.

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint or review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Trust. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner for Wales
2nd Floor
Churchill House
Churchill Way
Cardiff
CF10 2HH

Telephone: 029 2067 8400
Email: wales@ico.org.uk