Chief Nursing Officer Targets MRSA and Hospital Cleanliness, UK

Main Category: MRSA / Drug Resistance
Article Date: 19 Oct 2004 - 12:00 PDT

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UK - Health Secretary John Reid today appointed Chris Beasley as England's new Chief Nursing Officer. He said her top priority is to improve hospital cleanliness and tackle MRSA and other hospital infections.

John Reid said: 'I am delighted to welcome Chris to this vitally important role. I have made clear that her first concern must be to ensure all NHS hospitals come up to the standards of the best when it comes to cleanliness and infection control.

'Everyone has a role to play - hospital cleaners are as important as consultants when it comes to these issues. Nurses, doctors and other staff are in the front line of this struggle, and I am determined hospital managers and my department give them the support they need.

'Today we are publishing the Matron's Charter - a no-nonsense guide for hospital staff which makes clear all have a role to play, but Matron must take the lead in setting standards. The document is clear and non-technical and while it is aimed at staff, should be shared with patients and visitors.'

Chris Beasley said: 'I am delighted to take up this post and relish the challenge of ensuring all staff put hospital cleanliness and infection control at the top of the agenda.

'Matrons must lead by example and by making changes when things aren't up to scratch. This charter gives a common sense approach to improving the environment in hospitals.'

The Matron's Charter: An Action Plan for Cleaner Hospitals was drawn up by the Department of Health working with the Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Midwives, Infection Control Nurses Association, Hospital Infection Society, Healthcare Facilities Management Association, Association of Domestic Managers, and Unison.

It was launched by John Reid and Chris Beasley at the Middlesex Hospital, part of University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust.

The charter is a 21st century workplan for hospital cleanliness based on a nineteenth century instruction from Florence Nightingale:-

"Let whoever is in charge keep this simple question in her head, not how can I always do this right thing myself, but how can I provide for this right thing to be always done?"

It sets out the demands each matron will make of her ward staff to ensure a culture of cleanliness through a series of provocative questions

-- What could you do to make it easier for cleaning staff to do their job?

-- Before you buy new equipment, do you have a system in place to ensure it can be cleaned?

-- Does your trust involve infection control nurses in refurbishment and new build projects?

-- Are the cleaning staff invited to team parties, nights out etc?

-- Do photos of cleaning staff appear alongside others at the entrance to wards?

-- Do you pick up odd pieces of litter?

-- Do you have a rapid reliable way of responding to patient comments?

It also sets out what works in making improving hospital cleanliness for new matrons:

-- Ensuring all staff receive training in infection control

-- Sets out the process by which matrons withhold payment for cleaning services that fail to come up to scratch

-- The importance of clear, agreed and well publicised cleaning routines

-- Ensuring matrons will make sure cleaners feel part of the ward team.

-- Cleaning staff will be recognised for the important work they do

Beverly Malone, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said:

'The RCN, through our leadership programme, has been actively raising awareness and discovering solutions to unsatisfactory levels of health acquired infections. Our matrons have been directly involved in shaping the Matron's Charter and we are pleased to see such a clear government understanding of how important it is to empower matrons. Under this Charter nurses will be involved in drawing up cleaning contracts and matrons will have the authority to withhold payment in the event of substandard work. Equally important is the recognition of how matrons can establish a cleanliness culture, while also ensuring cleaners feel properly valued members of the health care team. This Charter is a good starting point to bring about genuine improvements in patient care and the RCN will make an active contribution to delivering its recommendations.'

The Royal College of Midwives said:

'Midwives will welcome any initiative that ensures that cleaners will be a part of the team in maternity units thus enabling them to be kept clean around the clock in line with the 24 hour service that they provide.'

The Infection Control Nurses Association said:

'We are pleased with the key role it has played in this initiative and developing this Charter in partnership with all the stakeholders. This is an important initiative in cleanliness which is set to improve the patient experience and clinical outcomes. The members of the Association will continue to work in partnership with the Modern Matrons in future developments.'

The Hospital Infection Society said:

'We embrace this latest in a series of Government iniatives,to reduce the incidence of healthcare associated infections.'

The Healthcare Facilities Management Association said:

'We welcome this initative and the recognition that cleanliness within hospitals is everyones business.We look forward to continuing to work closely with clinical colleagues to deliver cleaner healthcare facilities for patients ,the public and NHS staff.'

Chris Beasley began her career in nursing in 1962 at the Royal London Hospital. She has held a wide range of nursing roles in hospitals and the community. Her most recent roles were as the NHS Modernisation Agency's Director of Partnership Development and then interim head of the Agency.

The previous Chief Nursing Officer, Sarah Mullally, left the Department of Health last month to join the Church of England.

Notes to editor
1.The Matrons Charter is available on the Department of Health website: www.dh.gov.uk

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