the Hospital
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a leading healthcare provider serving around 343,000 residents across Chester, West Cheshire, and parts of North Wales. With 550 beds and over 5,200 staff across multiple sites, the Trust delivers a wide range of acute, specialist, and community-based services, all underpinned by a strong commitment to high-quality patient care and innovation.
The problem
Addressing Inefficiencies in Infection Prevention & Control Audits
Before implementing MEG’s digital platform, the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) team faced several operational challenges:
Manual processes: Audits relied on printed forms, manual data collection, and re-entry into outdated systems.
Delayed reporting: Manual compilation slowed audit result delivery and analysis.
Limited visibility: Tracking trends or acting quickly was difficult with paper-based methods.
Fragmented documentation: Photos had to be emailed separately for inclusion in reports.
Inefficient communication: Audit results were shared individually via email, hindering transparency and action.
“Our process was archaic. Conducting audits was slow, and sharing the results was cumbersome. We lacked a real-time view of our data, making it hard to identify areas that needed improvement.”
Goals
A Vision for Streamlined, Transparent Audits
The Trust’s objective was to modernise infection prevention audits—making them faster, easier, and more transparent. Key goals included:
Reducing manual workload and improving efficiency
Making audit data accessible to all relevant staff
Streamlining reporting and enabling quicker follow-up
Enabling real-time monitoring to strengthen infection prevention across the Trust
“We needed a system where audits could be completed and shared instantly, without the burden of manual data entry.”
decision
Side-by-Side Trial
To identify the best solution, the Trust trialled MEG alongside another UK audit software. The competing system restricted audits to specific departments, while MEG supported full coverage across all areas, offering greater flexibility and scalability.
IMPLEMENTATION
MEG’s Digital Audit Platform
Rolling out MEG transformed operations. The platform introduced new capabilities:
Mobile-friendly audits: Staff completed audits on smartphones or tablets, eliminating paper entirely
Integrated photos: Images were added directly to reports—no separate emails
Real-time dashboards: Stakeholders viewed results instantly, filtering by date, ward, or division
Automated alerts and reminders: These kept audits on track and supported timely action
Instant reporting: Compliance data was compiled automatically, saving time and effort
“ Once we moved to MEG, it revolutionised our audit process. Reports are now disseminated instantly, and staff can access data without having to request it”
Results
Tangible Improvements in IPC Audits
Efficiency up: Audit completion time dropped 40%. The yearly program now wraps in nine months, creating space for re-audits and quality improvement.
Better oversight: Real-time data improved visibility, especially for hand hygiene.
Higher standards: Focused tracking led to sustained improvements in areas like commode cleanliness.
Stronger governance: MEG now supports the Trust’s Board Assurance Framework with clear evidence of care quality.
“We weren’t convinced by ward-reported hand hygiene. Because we had MEG, we were able to take on hand hygiene monitoring as a team—MEG gave us real visibility.”
FUTURE VISION
Expanding MEG’s Impact Through Collaboration and Benchmarking
Looking ahead, Michael sees MEG expanding within the Trust and across other healthcare organisations. His vision includes greater collaboration and benchmarking through shared data standards.
“Increased adoption of MEG and a commitment to shared data standards across more organisations would enable more robust benchmarking, allowing us to compare performance and share best practices more effectively”
CONCLUSION
A Digital Leap Forward in Infection Prevention
The Countess of Chester Hospital’s adoption of MEG demonstrates the power of digital transformation in infection prevention. With streamlined audits, real-time data, and enhanced oversight, MEG has enabled the IPC team to work more efficiently and improve patient safety across the Trust.
Michael summed it up perfectly:
“MEG has transformed the way we conduct audits, making the process seamless and efficient. We now have real-time insights that allow us to take immediate action and ensure patient safety.”
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