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Another False Economy at Epsom and St Helier
March 26, 2007 12:00 AM
Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam, has slammed a decision by Epsom and St Helier Hospital Trust to cut the jobs of 11 ward housekeeping staff introduced 4 years ago to tackle hospital-acquired infections. He branded the move "another false economy from the trust which brought us turning off the lights to cut energy bill."
The staff whose jobs are at risk coordinate cleaning and catering on a ward-by-ward basis. A Trust memo on the proposal to remove the staff suggests that the work currently performed by the housekeepers "would need to be absorbed into other roles" on the wards affected. Staff representatives fear that the move will increase the risk of infections on wards at the Trust's hospitals.
Speaking about the announcement, Paul Burstow MP said:
"The idea that it is possible to remove ward-based housekeeping staff without standards of cleanliness falling would be laughable were it not for the serious risks involved."
"Epsom and St Helier Hospital Trust has a serious problem with Clostridium Difficile and MRSA. If these figures rise as a result of this budget-driven cut, managers heads should roll."
"At a time when the Trust management say they want to shorten the length of stay in hospital, every effort should be directed towards preventing infection from spreading - good quality ward housekeeping plays a vital role in that battle."
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