Infection control numbers at a Hertfordshire NHS trust are "not on trajectory' according to a report, with 42 hospital-acquired infections recorded in November 2025.

West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is responsible for three hospitals in the region – Watford General Hospital, St Albans City Hospital and Hemel Hempstead Hospital.

According to board papers reviewed last week, most of these infections related to flu outbreaks on medical wards.

The integrated performance report stated that there were 455 incidents of harm reported in November 2025, down from 475 in October, but an increase of the 425 reported in September and 379 in August.

Of these, 62 incidents were classified as causing "moderate or higher" levels of patient harm. There were no incidents resulting in fatality, and there were no "never" events recorded. Of these 62 incidents, 42 related to hospital-acquired infections, "generally flu outbreaks on medical wards".

The report stated: "It was highlighted that infection control numbers were not on trajectory for the year, but that methods of reducing the spread of infection coming into the organisation were being investigated, and that work around cleaning had seen a reduction in infection control numbers."

A West Herts Teaching Hospitals Trust spokesman said: "Under the Patient Safety Incident Reporting Framework, divisions are reporting healthcare acquired C difficile and Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection as moderate harm.

"Reporting the harm is one part of the process, with cases reviewed by the patient's multidisciplinary team, infection control, and antimicrobial pharmacist.

advertisement

advertisement

"The trust is committed to infection prevention and control and has introduced UV cleaning technology and increased use of Hydrogen Peroxide Vapour (HPV) since April 2025, with a new cleaning contractor. Clinical teams are engaged in infection prevention by reviewing antibiotics promptly, changing from IV to oral antibiotics and reviewing medicines that increase the risk of C difficile.

"We are involving patients in infection prevention, an example of this is asking patients about their use of hand hygiene facilities in each clinical area's monthly hand hygiene audit."