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Government still peddle sham hospital 'clean-up' campaign
February 26, 2003 12:00 AM
The Government has continued to boast of the success of their "hospital clean-up" campaign, despite Liberal Democrat research exposing it as a PR stunt.
A report by Paul Burstow MP on hospital infections, "Now Wash Your Hands!" found serious concerns amongst front-line staff responsible for controlling the spread of infection in NHS hospitals. It discovered that the much trumpeted hospital clean-up drive was little more than a public relations campaign at the expense of the patients' health. Of the 19 measures touted by the Government as a solution to the problem, only one is actually about hygiene.
Paul Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat spokesman for older people said:
"While the Government boasts about "cleaner hospitals", rates of infection continue to rise at alarming rates, infection control teams are crying out for more influence and support.
"Patients go to hospital to get better, not get even more ill. Dirty hospitals and poor hygiene practices are putting people's lives at risk.
"The Government's response has been shockingly complacent, and they have tried to gloss over the problem rather than deal with the real issues. Decorating the reception is not going to stop the superbugs.
"We want patients to challenge bad practice when they see it. Doctors and nurses must wash their hands between examining patients so they don't carry infections from one to the other. If patients spot that this is not happening they have every right to complain."
- Ends-
Notes to Editors
1. Paul Burstow's report, Now wash your hands, describes the Government's "Clean Hospitals Programme", (their only answer to the MRSA infections) which graded hospitals on 19 different categories. Unbelievably, only one related to hygiene. The others included such arbitrary issues as C.C.T.V in car parks and adequate signage. A dirty hospital, harbouring MRSA and bad hygiene practices, might be rated as excellent simply because it looks pretty and has a secure car park.
2. The report also publishes the results of a survey of infection control teams, which found that:
• Almost a third of respondents were either "quite" or "very" unsatisfied that staff were washing their hands as often as was recommended.
• Doctors were worse than nurses about washing their hands
• Over 60% of respondents felt they did not have adequate resources to carry out their jobs properly.
• One infection control team was coping with one manager, three nurses and a secretary trying to cover 1,200 beds.
• 6 out of 10 trusts admitted that their staff wore uniforms to and from work, thus increasing the risk of infection. The reasons cited were a lack of laundry and changing facilities and not enough uniforms.
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