The future for infection prevention and control in English primary care trusts

Although less well developed than in the hospital sector, the infection prevention and control function is important to primary and community care. In each reorganisation in the NHS, any specialist workforce needs to align with that part of the system that holds the relevant responsibilities and duties. This paper describes how infection control nursing has shifted its focus over the past decade. It questions whether the primary care trust (PCT) will remain an appropriate employing organisation in the future, as those provider functions currently within PCTs move away. The challenge will then be to ensure that infection prevention and control remains prominent within the decision making of PCTs and practice-based commissioners, with expert infection control advice and support also remaining available to independent primary care practitioners. A market for infection prevention and control advice and support services would be possible, provided suitable employment conditions could be ensured.