News / NHS working to make hospital ward cleaner
NHS SHETLAND says it is already taking action to improve the cleanliness of Gilbert Bain Hospital after shortcomings were identified late last year.
A report from the healthcare environment inspectorate (HEI), published on Monday following an unannounced inspection carried out in November, pointed to various issues.
They include dirt found on a variety of beds, commodes and equipment in Ward One at the Lerwick hospital. NHS Shetland has put an action plan in place to deal with the shortcomings.
The health board stressed the findings were “generally positive”, demonstrating it complied with most of the standards designed to protect patients, staff and visitors from the risk of acquiring infections.
HEI said most wards were “generally clean and well maintained” and a good range of leaflets on infection control were available.
However inspectors found that procedures must be tightened to ensure reusable patient equipment is always cleaned properly.
Other measures it called for include improving communication between ward staff and other parts of the organisation. Hospital staff must also ensure procedures relating to the flushing of water taps are carried out consistently.
HEI wants staff to be made aware of the dangers of bacteria which can cause disease – specifically legionella, which causes Legionnaires, and “pseudomonas aeruginosa”, a bacterium found in stagnant water.
NHS Shetland chief executive Ralph Roberts said he was pleased that the inspection feedback was “in the main positive”. But he acknowledged the report highlighted areas where the hospital can do better.
The health board has been given a month to ensure national standards are met. Roberts said “corrective action” had already been taken and he expects cleanliness in the surgical ward to “continue to get better”.
“We’d love to get a perfect glowing report,” he told BBC Radio Shetland, “but I think we also have to recognise that whenever you get an inspection the point of it… is to make sure we maintain and improve our standards, and I’m confident that we will do that.”
Roberts pointed to low infection rates, evidence demonstrating that patient information on infections was clearly displayed throughout the hospital, and “consistently positive feedback” from patients about the hospital’s cleanliness.
A survey of 10 patients at the hospital, which has 67 beds split between three wards and a maternity unit, found a high level of confidence in its cleanliness. Patients were also pleased with the standard of care they received.
Roberts said members of the public should take “reassurance” from the survey’s findings. But “if they come into the hospital and there’s issues that they notice, then if they speak to a member of staff we’ll get it sorted out at the time”.
He added: “I would like to thank all staff for their continued efforts to maintain high standards of patient care and in providing a safe and clean environment.”
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