As the National Health Service faces many challenges in relation to infectious diseases, a new advanced course at Swansea University is playing a key role in preparing practitioners to meet these challenges.

The MSc Advanced Clinical Practice - Infection Control option is a part-time course designed for health professionals, which begins in October 2006.

Some of the basic ways of stopping the spread of infection include washing hands; isolation, which involves separating patients with infections from other patients; and following special cleaning protocols.

This new course is also designed to tackle the underlying and long-term changes needed, including the management of clinical situations, educating professionals and research into causes of infection and their solutions.

Dr John Gammon, Senior Lecturer in the School of Health Science at Swansea University, said: "The management of infections and infectious diseases with any healthcare facility is absolutely vital for the protection of patients, the public, healthcare workers and society as a whole.”

“Fundamental to the MSc is the view that practitioners need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to plan, manage and provide appropriate care to protect the public and ensure an excellent quality of health care. Practitioners will study a broad range of subjects that will enable them to make decisions appropriate to the prevention, control and management of these infections and infectious diseases.”

The application closing date for this course is 31 July 2006. Those interested in the course should contact 01792 518531 / shsadmissions@swansea.ac.uk or visit www.healthscience.swansea.ac.uk

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