Lp. Grime et Sd. Horsley, THE ABRAMS REPORT - COMMUNICABLE DISEASE-CONTROL - HOW DO HEALTH DISTRICTS MEASURE UP TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS, Journal of public health medicine, 17(4), 1995, pp. 465-468
Background The aims of the study were to examine whether Health Distri
cts in the North Western Region complied with the recommendations in t
he Abrams report regarding the control of communicable disease [incorp
orated into the Annex to Circular HSG(93)56], and to identify areas th
at need further attention. Methods The recommendations were extracted
and arranged in questionnaire form. Further items were included dealin
g with the use of Epinet in communicating with the profession. A compl
iance score was derived from affirmative and qualified affirmative res
ponses. Results Many recommendations were met by all or most Districts
. Compliance was 90 per cent or over for 58 per cent of the questions
where an assessment was appropriate. Of the 16 Districts in consortia,
75 per cent did not have a consortium plan. Day-to-day plans were inf
ormal in 21 per cent of Districts; In 63 per cent of Districts the Fam
ily Health Services Authority (FHSA) was nor involved to the extent th
at it should be, The Consultant in Communicable Disease Control (CCDC)
had insufficient District Health Authority support in 42 per cent of
Districts and insufficient Local Authority support in 16 per cent of D
istricts, In 58 per cent of Districts there was lack of inclusion of m
atters relating to the control of infectious disease in contractual st
atements between purchaser and provider. There was a lack of audit in
47 per cent of Districts. Conclusions One plan or a compatible series
of plans are required across each District; Informal day-to-day plans
should be formalized. The FHSA should be fully involved in infectious
disease control plans. Certain Districts require;a Community Infection
Control Nurse, accountable to the CCDC and/or administrative support
to input and scan surveillance data. Contractual statements between pu
rchaser and provider should include appropriate infection control requ
irements when this is not already the case. Communicable disease contr
ol audit should be a regular part of CCDC duties.