Hospitals still failing on hygiene

Published: Monday, 24 November 2008, 7:17AM

Nine out of ten NHS hospital trusts are still failing to make the grade on hygiene, according to a report.

The Healthcare Commission carried out more than 50 spot checks and found only five trusts were sticking to Government rules brought in to reduce infections.

And while most of the failures did not pose an immediate risk to patient safety, the Commission found almost all acute trusts had more work to do to control the spread of infection.

In the areas where breaches did cause a serious risk managers were told to take immediate action.

Three trusts were given improvement notices to tackle failures in decontamination processes.

Commission chief executive Anna Walker said: "It is clear that the NHS is paying close attention to infection prevention and control.

"Trusts have made real progress with many getting good systems in place and demonstrating clear board leadership on this important issue.

"Where we have raised concerns, we have generally been encouraged by the positive and prompt response at those trusts. Importantly, we have found few breaches requiring immediate action to protect the safety of patients - and where we have we have taken swift action."

But she stressed that there were still "gaps that need closing".

"Now the challenge for trusts is to ensure they drive further sustained improvements by getting the right systems in place all of the time," she said.

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

"In particular, trusts need to ensure that their wards are consistently clean and well maintained, and that they have good decontamination and isolation arrangements.

"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."

The Patients' Association said it was dismayed at the failures highlighted by the Commission.

Director Katherine Murphy said: "The Patients' Association says 'enough is enough'.

"The Hygiene Code is a legal requirement - why are staff members who fail to work to the Hygiene Code not disciplined?"

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.