Most UK hospitals fail hygiene tests

[Guest guest]

Only five out of 51 hospitals pass hygiene test, say inspectors

* Boseley, health editor

* The Guardian, Monday November 24 2008

Nearly all hospitals are failing to meet hygiene and cleanliness

standards set by the government to prevent superbug outbreaks,

inspectors say today. Most of the breaches are not serious, but the

Healthcare Commission warns that only consistent and comprehensive

controls in all NHS trusts will ensure that infection rates for MRSA,

Clostridium difficile and other hospital-acquired infections continue

to fall.

" At nearly all trusts we have found gaps that need closing, " said

, the commission's chief executive. " It is important to be clear

that at these trusts we are not talking about the most serious kind of

breaches. But these are important warning signs to trust boards that

there may be a weakness in their systems. "

At three out of the 51 trusts (around a third of the total) where

unannounced spot checks took place, inspectors found serious breaches

of the government's hygiene code. Bromley Hospitals NHS trust, Ipswich

Hospitals NHS trust and Ashford and St 's NHS trust were all

issued with improvement notices which require urgent action to

safeguard patients. More than half of all the trusts were failing to

keep all areas clean and well-maintained. One in five trusts did not

properly comply with the rules on decontamination of instruments and

other equipment used with patients. One in eight did not have adequate

isolation facilities for patients who have picked up infections, which

is extremely important for preventing the spread between patients on

wards.

However, the commission said it was encouraged by the positive steps

many trusts had taken to remedy the breaches it had identified. Out of

the 51 trusts, only five had a completely clean bill of health. These

were Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS trust, Kingston

Hospital NHS trust, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS trust, St 's

Healthcare NHS trust and St Helen's and Knowsley Hospitals NHS trust.

said that generally, trusts were paying close attention to

infection prevention and control and their efforts appeared to be

bringing rates down. But the commission wants to see compliance with

the hygiene code all of the time and for every patient. " It is the

consistent application of these systems that will ensure infection

rates continue to drop. These issues are a top priority for the

public. We make no apologies for demanding high standards. We have

been asked by the government to help maintain the concentration on

these issues and we intend to do just that. "

The commission is warning trusts that they must comply before they can

register with the new Care Quality Commission, which begins work next

April and will be able to impose conditions on trusts and levy fines

if they fail.

Health minister Ann Keen said any breach of the code was unacceptable

and trusts must take immediate action.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/nov/24/mrsa-hospital-hygiene