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Wednesday, 22 March 2006 11:08
BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk
Survey exposes failing in hospital hygiene
The Healthcare Commission’s annual survey has revealed that 40 per cent of hospital staff do not have constant access to the hot water, soap, paper towels and alcohol rubs needed to prevent the spread of the MRSA superbug.

The findings, published today, are based on responses form 209,000 employees in 570 trusts in England. A quarter of respondents said trusts did not sufficiently promote the importance of hand-washing to staff, patients and visitors.

Karen Jennings, head of health at the public service union Unison, said: "It seems incredible, when the risk of cross-infection in hospitals is so high, that two out of five staff still do not have access to basic hot water, soap and paper towels or alcohol rubs ... it is shameful that nearly a half of all staff have still not had any training in infection control."

Sixty one per cent of respondents said that hygiene materials were always available when needed. However, this dropped as low as 46 per cent at Barnet and Chase Farm hospitals in Enfield, and 50 per cent at Great Ormond Street children’s hospital in London.

Only 38 per cent of ambulance staff in London were satisfied that the basic materials for effective hygiene were always available.

Anna Walker, chief executive of the commission, said: "It is worrying that a small but significant minority of staff reported that adequate hand-cleaning facilities were not always available when needed, both for themselves and for patients and others."

She added that trusts would be investigated as part of an annual check on whether they meet hygiene standards.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "We are pleased that nearly 90% of staff felt hand-hygiene facilities were available either always or most of the time and that staff recognise their importance in reducing infections.

"We are now legislating to put a code of practice and a tougher inspection regime into law to drive up standards of hygiene and infection control, with ultimate sanctions for trusts who fail to deliver."


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