Isolation policy
All hospitals have an isolation policy, but the number of single rooms available in a particular hospital will dictate whether all infectious patients can be put into side rooms or whether a prioritisation is needed to contain specific diseases.
Infections, such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile, can be spread by direct contact with staff, equipment, other patients or visitors. Isolation can be a very emotive subject and patients and their families may not react positively or cooperate with medical staff, if they are told they will be isolated from other patients.
A successful isolation policy is one that is transparent and informs patients exactly why they are being isolated and gives them enough warning to prepare mentally for the experience.
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