Clare Johnstone, Registered Nurse

Professional Experience

I qualified as a Registered Nurse in 2003, following a BSc (Hons) in Microbiology in 2000. I currently work as a Clinical Nurse Specialist and Deputy Director of Infection Prevention and Control for a community healthcare NHS Trust. My remit covers infection prevention across community and out-of-hospital services. I lead a team of 14, including eight specialist nurses, five trainees, and an administrator. My core responsibilities include managing infection prevention programmes, overseeing clinical risk assessments, and supporting care teams in managing patients with infections or those at increased risk. I was a key member of the Trust’s COVID-19 incident response team from 2020 to 2023 and continue to lead on the review and dissemination of COVID-related guidance. I also contribute to regional system-wide initiatives to standardise infection control procedures.

My areas of expertise include healthcare-associated infections, decontamination, surveillance, root cause analysis, and contract and risk management. I regularly assess clinical practice against national and local guidelines, including NICE standards, and lead reviews where infection prevention concerns arise. I use audit and surveillance data to identify trends and implement improvement measures. I also investigate complaints and incidents, ensuring appropriate actions are taken and lessons learned are embedded.

My national-level experience includes serving as an Infection Prevention and Control Specialist Advisor for the NHS Clinical Evaluation Team, where I provided clinical input into the evaluation of healthcare consumables—such as gloves, dressings, and suction equipment—used in national procurement frameworks.

Professional Development

I hold a BSc (Hons) in Infection Control (2011) and a Master’s Degree in Public Health (2015). I maintain my professional development by attending relevant training.