Hospital told to clean up
Health chiefs at Stamford Hospital have been told to improve hygiene control after a spotcheck revealed problems.
Healthcare Commission inspectors made an unannounced visit to the hospital in April and found dust and dirt in some areas and that general maintenance was not up to scratch.
They have now given Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Trust an action plan to remedy the situation. The trrust welcomed the visit and the report, saying it was disappointed problems had been found.
It said action had already been taken to ensure the situation was improved.
In their report, the inspectors said: "Cleanliness was generally adequate in bedside areas but dust and dirt were seen in some utility and storage areas.
"Clinical waste was not stored safely and general maintenance issues, particularly in accident and emergency and at Stamford Hospital, had been neglected and storage issues did not promote good infection control practice."
The inspectors were assessing compliance with three duties of the hygiene code, focusing on appropriate management systems, a clean and appropriate environment and adequate isolation facilities.
The recommendations to the trust call for clear policies to address the admission, transfer and discharge of patients between the trust's sites and other healthcare facilities, better storage of cleaning equipment in the accident and emergency department, regular assessment of all clinical environments to identify maintenance issues that may compromise cleaning standards, and clear definition of standards of cleanliness to be implemented and monitored on an ongoing basis.
Chris Wilkinson, director of nursing at the trust, said: "We welcome the unannounced visit because it has helped the trust identify areas where we need to improve to further reduce rates of patients acquiring healthcare associated infections.
"The trust is, however, disappointed that it did not demonstrate full compliance with all of the sub-duties.
"We have received recommendations to improve infection prevention and control processes and we have already developed an action plan to implement measures to ensure full compliance."
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Weather for Stamford
Saturday 26 May 2012
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