Excuses Excuses
The news that standards of cleanliness are still below par in some of Scotland's hospitals has met with a pathetic response from the Labour Party and the main nursing union, the RCN.
Now the fact that not all hospitals and not all wards or departments in the same hospital come in for criticism, means that staffing issues and resources are not the underlying problem.
Just as staffing issues and resources were not to blame for up to 1200 unnecessary deaths at Mid Staffs Hospital or poor standards of care at the Vale of Leven Hospital in Scotland.
Cleanliness of Scottish hospitals still falls short of the expected standards
Susan Brimelow said there were "general improvements" Times Newspapers Ltd
By Mike Wade - The Times
NHS boards across Scotland have been urged to improve cleaniness regimes in the wake of an annual review which found “standards continue to fall short of what patients have a right to expect”.
The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) published its findings yesterday, noting that in the critical area of “standard infection control procedures” its officials made a total of 48 “requirements” in hospitals across Scotland, instructing staff on the improvements needed to meet official guidelines.
The report states: “We continue to find issues with cleanliness on our inspections. We found occasions where some cleaning responsibilities were not clear between nursing and domestic staff, for example the cleaning of patient beds.
“In some instances, we were told ‘there is no time to clean’ between patient use. We also found the cleanliness of patient equipment was not always being monitored effectively to ensure it was clean and ready for use. A common theme from our inspections this year is the poor standard of cleaning in emergency departments.”
The latest publication follows the recent MacLean report, which found that at least 34 people died from clostridium difficile infection in Vale of Leven hospital six years ago.
Lord MacLean said infection control management at the hospital, run by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, had been “unfit for purpose” and infection control “was not a priority”. He warned that problems of cleanliness were recurring in the NHS.
His point was underlined in November when NHS Lanarkshire was reported to the Scottish government over its repeated failures to meet hygiene standards at Hairmyres hospital in East Kilbride. A month later, Glasgow Royal Infirmary was ordered to improve cleanliness and infection control regimes after inspectors found hospital equipment was contaminated with blood.
While Susan Brimelow, chief inspector of HEI, said they were seeing “general improvements” across Scotland, she added: “This report shows that even after five years of inspections to drive improvements in cleanliness, hygiene and infection control, standards in some NHS boards continue to fall short of what patients have a right to expect. NHS Scotland must not slip in the fight against infection.”
Theresa Fyffe, director of RCN Scotland, warned that staff shortages were likely to impact on best practice. She said: “As our nursing and overall NHS workforce is increasingly stretched trying to meet the demands of their jobs, it is more and more likely that aspects of cleaning will fall through the gaps.
“It is imperative that clear guidance on the roles and responsibilities of nursing and cleaning staff is implemented and communicated effectively.”
Jenny Marra, Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman, said NHS staff were “being let down by the SNP government”. She added: “For inspectors to be told that in some instances there is no time to clean beds between patients will shock Scots, and is a damning indictment of the condition of our NHS under the SNP.
“We know that the NHS is under huge pressure, but the SNP simply are not giving it the support it needs.”
Shona Robison, the cabinet secretary for health, wellbeing and sport, said: “I welcome the chief inspector’s recognition that there have been big steps forward in Scotland’s hospitals around cleanliness and patient safety.
“However, I share the inspectorate’s disappointment that there are recurring areas and repeat requirements where improvement is still needed.
“I have made it clear to the chairs of all health boards about the importance I attach to these inspections and the findings that arise from them. I asked all chairs to personally look at the cleanliness and infection control compliance of hospitals under their control and reassure me that the high standards we expect are being maintained.”
NHS boards across Scotland have been urged to improve cleaniness regimes in the wake of an annual review which found “standards continue to fall short of what patients have a right to expect”.
The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) published its findings yesterday, noting that in the critical area of “standard infection control procedures” its officials made a total of 48 “requirements” in hospitals across Scotland, instructing staff on the improvements needed to meet official guidelines.
The report states: “We continue to find issues with cleanliness on our inspections. We found occasions where some cleaning responsibilities were not clear between nursing and domestic staff, for example the cleaning of patient beds.
“In some instances, we were told ‘there is no time to clean’ between patient use. We also found the cleanliness of patient equipment was not always being monitored effectively to ensure it was clean and ready for use. A common theme from our inspections this year is the poor standard of cleaning in emergency departments.”
The latest publication follows the recent MacLean report, which found that at least 34 people died from clostridium difficile infection in Vale of Leven hospital six years ago.
Lord MacLean said infection control management at the hospital, run by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, had been “unfit for purpose” and infection control “was not a priority”. He warned that problems of cleanliness were recurring in the NHS.
His point was underlined in November when NHS Lanarkshire was reported to the Scottish government over its repeated failures to meet hygiene standards at Hairmyres hospital in East Kilbride. A month later, Glasgow Royal Infirmary was ordered to improve cleanliness and infection control regimes after inspectors found hospital equipment was contaminated with blood.
While Susan Brimelow, chief inspector of HEI, said they were seeing “general improvements” across Scotland, she added: “This report shows that even after five years of inspections to drive improvements in cleanliness, hygiene and infection control, standards in some NHS boards continue to fall short of what patients have a right to expect. NHS Scotland must not slip in the fight against infection.”
Theresa Fyffe, director of RCN Scotland, warned that staff shortages were likely to impact on best practice. She said: “As our nursing and overall NHS workforce is increasingly stretched trying to meet the demands of their jobs, it is more and more likely that aspects of cleaning will fall through the gaps.
“It is imperative that clear guidance on the roles and responsibilities of nursing and cleaning staff is implemented and communicated effectively.”
Jenny Marra, Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman, said NHS staff were “being let down by the SNP government”. She added: “For inspectors to be told that in some instances there is no time to clean beds between patients will shock Scots, and is a damning indictment of the condition of our NHS under the SNP.
“We know that the NHS is under huge pressure, but the SNP simply are not giving it the support it needs.”
Shona Robison, the cabinet secretary for health, wellbeing and sport, said: “I welcome the chief inspector’s recognition that there have been big steps forward in Scotland’s hospitals around cleanliness and patient safety.
“However, I share the inspectorate’s disappointment that there are recurring areas and repeat requirements where improvement is still needed.
“I have made it clear to the chairs of all health boards about the importance I attach to these inspections and the findings that arise from them. I asked all chairs to personally look at the cleanliness and infection control compliance of hospitals under their control and reassure me that the high standards we expect are being maintained.”
