Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection Scotland

Antimicrobial Resistance & Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI) Scotland is a clinical service providing national expertise for infection, prevention and control (IPC), antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and healthcare associated infection (HAI) for Scotland. ARHAI Scotland, along with Health Facilities Scotland (HFS), is part of NHS Scotland Assure. NHS Scotland Assure sits within the Procurement, Commissioning and Facilities Strategic Business Unit of NHS National Services Scotland (NSS).

Vision: ARHAI Scotland’s vision is as follows:

“To enable Scotland to have a world leading approach to reducing the burden of infection and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).”

Mission: Our overall mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of the population by reducing the burden of infection and antimicrobial resistance within Scottish care settings. We will do this by establishing a robust evidence base for practice and building mechanisms for monitoring key priority areas, connecting with the wider health and social care and public health system and collaborating with key delivery partners including NHS Boards, care providers and other national bodies as commissioned by the Scottish Government.

Purpose: We coordinate the national programmes for IPC and AMR, supports local NHS Boards, other national bodies and stakeholders in the implementation and delivery of these key priority programmes to reduce the overall burden of infection and antimicrobial resistance in line with nationally agreed priorities.

Role: We provide expert intelligence, support, advice, evidence-based guidance, clinical assurance and clinical leadership to local and national government, health and care professionals, the general public and other national bodies with the aim of protecting the people of Scotland from the burden of infection and antimicrobial resistance.

As the national organisation responsible for IPC and AMR, we liaise with other UK countries and international counterparts in the delivery and development of these national priority programmes.

ARHAI Scotland’s Functions: The work of ARHAI Scotland is underpinned by delivering a wide range of functions, working with stakeholders across health and care and beyond to fulfil these functions:

• surveillance and monitoring of infections and antimicrobial resistance to assess their impact on health

• clinical assurance to reduce risk in the built healthcare environment

• co-ordination of national infection prevention and control and antimicrobial programmes

• expert IPC/AMR advice and horizon scanning

• effective preparation and response to HAI outbreaks and incidents

• supporting the ongoing development of a confident, knowledgeable and competent IPC workforce in collaboration with NHS Education for Scotland

• enabling good professional practice

• research and innovation to provide evidence for action

• develop and maintain national evidence-based IPC guidance for Scotland