Collaboration continues to explore ways to combat C. diff cases
10 November 2025
A partnership between health board and trust teams and NHS Wales Performance and Improvement continues to work towards reducing the rising rates of the C. diff infection in healthcare settings.
An online co-design event was held in June where NHS colleagues from across Wales shared their experiences and ideas to help shape the C. diff Learning Collaborative.
This was followed by a scoping review over the summer, which involved interviews with 60 people including a wide range of roles including nurses, medics, microbiologists, senior executives, healthcare support workers, people working in pharmacy, cleaning, facilities and estates, and infection prevention and control.
The aim of the study was to understand staff perspectives on what is causing C. diff infections in NHS settings and identify opportunities for behaviour change interventions to reduce infections.
The learning collaborative held their first in-person event in October, where a thematic analysis of all the interviews linking to a behavioural science model was presented.
Opening the event, Chief Nursing Officer for Wales, Sue Tranka said: “C. diff is not just a clinical challenge—it’s a deeply human one, affecting patients, families, and the teams who care for them.
“By coming together to share ideas and drive innovation, we can make a real difference and ensure every patient in Wales benefits from the best possible care.”
Samantha Matthews, Head of Nursing (HARP) for Public Health Wales said: "This learning event reflects the commitment for a safe care partnership to enable continuous improvement and collaborative working. Our clinical leaders are central to this, ensuring that the insights gained are embedded within our established frameworks, our clinical care pathways. It’s not a separate initiative — it’s part of how we deliver safe, effective, care across Wales.”
Michael Perry, Consultant Clinical Scientist, Public Health Wales added: “The C. diff Collaborative Learning Event was fantastically facilitated by improvement and behavioural science experts from NHS Wales Performance and Improvement.
“Under the auspices of the NHS Wales Health Care Associated Infection Delivery Group, and as part of the Safe Care Partnership, it brought together clinical leaders from NHS Wales health boards and trusts, Public Health Wales and Welsh Government.
“It was a wonderful example of the way that NHS Wales frontline and support service colleagues work collaboratively to improve safety for Welsh patients every day. The insight, and passion, shared at the event were testament to the professionalism of all those in attendance.
“It gives me full confidence that everyone will continue to work together to embed the learning during, and beyond, the lifetime of the learning collaborative to reduce the harmful impact that C. difficile infection has on patients and their families, as well as our communities and services, across Wales.”
Members of the learning collaborative will now work with their regional leads towards identifying suitable areas to test changes and learn from within their organisations or as national pieces of work.
For more information about the learning collaborative, visit: C. diff Collaborative - Home