Maidstone And Tunbridge Wells Hospital Trust To Benefit From Deep Clean Programme, UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 05 Nov 2007 - 4:00 PDT

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The additional funding announced will allow the Trust to accelerate its cleaning plans and develop an enhanced cleaning programme for all the hospitals. It will continue the positive progress the Trust has made following the outbreak of 2005 which includes a rigid policy for the use of antibiotics and measures to ensure that all patients with the infection are treated in isolation.

Alan Johnson added:

"To help staff continue to improve hygiene, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells will be one of the first Trusts to receive funding under the deep clean programme I announced last month. This is part of a wider range of measures that all Trusts need to take to tackle healthcare acquired infections and ensure patient safety"

Latest figures published show that C. difficile rates in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust have fallen since the outbreak in 2005 and are now just above the national average.

Notes

1. The recent Healthcare Commission report made clear that a poor environment played a part in the problems at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust. They sighted the many dormitory style wards and lack of single rooms which could be used for isolating patients with infections.

2. The NHS received guidance on what a deep clean might entail. The details of the deep clean will be finalised locally. SHA estates and facilities advisors can help PCTs and SHAs to commission deep cleans that meet the needs of the site and deliver tangible outcomes by year-end.

A deep clean could include:

- Dismantling/cleaning beds/bedrails
- Cleaning equipment e.g. commodes
- Cleaning ductwork
- Steam cleaning
- Ultrasonic cleaning
- Hydrogen peroxide fogging
- Restoration of surfaces
- Wall-washing
- High cleaning
- Cleaning behind radiators, fitments
- Floor scrubbing
- Curtain changing
- Window washing
- Cleaning soft furnishings
- De-cluttering
- Cleaning cupboards/storage space
- Cleaning kitchens/food prep areas
- Cleaning trolleys/trolley wheels
- Cleaning entrances/common areas
- Doors and door furniture
- Light fittings
- Telephones/IT equipment

In some instances it may be more appropriate to replace items that cannot be satisfactorily cleaned, or to replace damaged finishes to make subsequent cleaning easier. Some Trusts may wish to use the fund to invest in equipment in this context, in addition to the cleaning of existing equipment where it need not be replaced.

The money can be spent in any hospital setting but priority should be given to areas where an impact on healthcare associated infections or on patient and public confidence can be clearly demonstrated. This is revenue funding which, under normal finance rules, can include non-capitalised equipment purchases.

The funding provided for the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust deep clean will include the purchase of decontamination equipment such as the ultrasound cleaning of wheelchairs and commodes.

3. A preferred bidder Equion, made up of John Laing, Laing O'Rourke and Interserve, has been appointed for a new £228 million hospital in Pembury. The trust and the preferred bidder will now work together to develop an approvable scheme which would begin construction early in the new year.

http://www.dh.gov.uk

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