Behind every C. diff case is a person

16 June 2026

C. diff can cause serious harm and have a lasting effect on people’s lives.

The Prevent C. diff campaign has been launched by Chief Nursing Officer, Sue Tranka, and Dr Richard Evans, Senior Medical Advisor to the Chief Medical Officer, and shares real stories from people in Wales whose lives have been affected by C. diff. Their experiences are a reminder that behind every case is a person, and that the actions we take every day make a difference.

As part of the campaign, Hayley Harrison Jeffreys, Head of Infection Prevention and Control at Velindre Cancer Service, shares her own personal story about her father who contracted C. diff in the last few months of his life.

Hayley has chosen to speak openly about her experience, helping to bring to life the real impact of C. diff on her family and supporting efforts to reduce infections across Wales.

Our actions matter:

• Wash hands with soap and water
• Maintain cleaning standards
• Use antibiotics safely

These actions play an important role in protecting patients.

Sue Tranka, Chief Nursing Officer, said “Behind every C. diff case is a person, and across NHS Wales it is the quality of our everyday care and clinical practice that makes a huge difference in protecting patients from harm.”

Dr Richard Evans, Senior Medical Advisor to the Chief Medical Officer said, “Preventing C. diff is a shared responsibility, and consistent, evidence-based practice, including safe antibiotic use, can make a real difference to patient outcomes.”

Access more information and resources from NHS Wales Performance and Improvement.