Infection prevention
to chance – we conducted mock ANTT visits, visiting sites in advance to carry out reviews. This not only allowed us to identify gaps, but also ensured our teams were better prepared when the real review came.
Leadership and governance Underpinning our approach was a strong culture, and stronger leadership - both national and clinical. National leadership provided clear direction, organisational prioritisation, and the resources we needed, while clinical leadership ensured that staff felt supported rather than scrutinised, and that training was meaningful and accessible. More than anything else, we were able to ensure that good practice was recognised, and that quality and safety remained the foundation of every
decision. Together, these leadership structures maintained accountability and oversight, enabling rapid progress without compromising safety. Most importantly, our leadership behaviours drove a culture our teams could get behind.
What comes next Achieving ANTT Gold showcases the strong quality and culture we have built and embedded over time and our priority now is to not only maintain what we’ve achieved, but to explore new ways of always improving. Finding ways to identify concerns early, share learning more easily, and using data to underpin this. Most important is maintaining the positive culture. We haven’t used the ANTT accreditation as the endpoint, but as another stage of the journey. This is another opportunity to see where there are weaknesses that can be strengthened. The communications and engagement process we used during accreditation is still ongoing – providing regular updates to reinforce what’s working well and continually identifying areas for improvement.
Final reflections Achieving Gold ANTT is a significant achievement for us. It reflects not just hard work, but the culture we’ve built, one that puts patient safety, consistency, and high standards at the centre of everything we do. I’m incredibly proud that this accreditation champions the robust infection prevention processes we’ve developed and embedded over time. It shows that our teams across all sites are
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committed, engaged, and aligned around the same goal: delivering safe, reliable aseptic practice every single day. While Gold ANTT is a huge accomplishment, it’s also a reminder of what matters most: staying curious, staying proactive, and continuing to improve.
CSJ
Chris Hinch
Chris Finch is Head of Infection Prevention and Control at Nuffield Health, where she provides strategic leadership across the charity to strengthen patient safety and reduce healthcare-associated infection risk. Chris has had a long and varied career in the independent healthcare sector, with extensive experience supporting clinical teams to embed effective, evidence-based infection prevention practice. Alongside her role at Nuffield Health, Chris has worked with and supported external infection prevention organisations, contributing to education, professional development, and the advancement of best practice across the sector.
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03 CSJ - Sickle Cell - May
2026.indd 1 06/05/2026 11:15:19 June 2026 I
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