Alarm over hygiene at maternity hospital
ALARM has been raised about poor hygiene at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, where around 100 Shetland babies are born every year.
On Tuesday health inspectors published a critical report detailing concerns raised following three separate inspections carried out in August and September.
Inspectors found bloodstains on equipment, body fluids on walls, high levels of dust and general contamination in certain parts of the Aberdeen hospital.
They also found equipment and materials that were damaged so that they could not be cleaned effectively, breast milk was not being stored properly and there were concerns about the laundry service.
Inspectors said they were so concerned after their first visit on 21 August that they returned two weeks later, and even after a third visit there were still outstanding issues.
On Tuesday Grampian health board chief executive Richard Carey said urgent steps had been taken to address the concerns.
“We are absolutely determined that standards of cleanliness are maintained at all times,” he said.
However he pointed out that the hospital needed to be replaced as it was so old, and described the operating theatre as unfit for purpose.
He said that a new maternity hospital has been commissioned, and also pointed out that the existing unit had a very good report for staff hand hygiene, dress code and a low rate of infection from caesarian sections.
NHS Shetland chief executive Ralph Roberts said that he would be seeking a personal reassurance from Carey over the next month that the concerns were being dealt with.
Roberts said that 100 Shetland babies are born in Aberdeen every year, with almost 200 being born in the islands.
He added that gynaecological surgery was one of several medical services the board hoped to bring back to Shetland over the course of the next year.
Meanwhile Shetland MSP Tavish Scott said the hospital’s failings had to be addressed immediately.
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“Many Shetland families use this hospital. It plays a vital role in healthcare for Shetland new-born babies. This report is therefore very concerning,” Scott said.
“The health board needs to quickly get to grips with the persistent problems the report has highlighted.
“The board’s chief executive must convene an emergency board meeting to ensure that NHS Grampian is doing everything it can to improve its procedures to meet the requirements and recommendations set out by the inspectors.
“We must all have confidence these matters are being immediately addressed.”
The Royal College of Nursing described the inspection report as “hugely disappointing”.
The inspector’s report can be found here.
NHS Grampian’s action plan to deal with the concerns can be found here.
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