The Council was involved in a four-Council project which coincided with the consultation on the Northern Ireland Strategy on the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infection.

As part of the Bugwatch project the Western Council staff and members were part of a team which undertook surveys at Altnagelvin Hospital and the Royal Group of Hospitals in September 2005.

Bugwatch is a toolkit developed in England to raise public awareness about healthcare associated infections and to highlight how the public can play their part in prevention and control of infection.