Fife’s hospitals have again come under the microscope after Scotland’s top hygiene inspector highlighted serious concerns about cleanliness standards.
Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline.
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Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline and Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy have been identified as two of 12 hospitals at which infection prevention practices were described as “poor” in Susan Brimelow’s annual report released on Tuesday, following the first year of checks carried out by the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI).
But while NHS Fife says it has taken measures to tackle concerns after the HEI published its findings earlier this year, Ms Brimelow told all health boards that “rapid improvements” are needed across the board to prevent the spread of infections such as MRSA and clostridium difficile. Some 90% of the HEI’s visits to Scottish hospitals will now be unannounced to drive up standards.
Failings in the 12 hospitals included not washing hands between attending to patients, not wearing appropriate protective equipment and not disposing of waste appropriately.
While inspectors found the overall perception of cleanliness at both Fife hospitals good and many areas of good practice, both the Victoria and Queen Margaret were criticised for not developing a consistent approach to cleaning across the hospitals.
John Wilson, chief executive of NHS Fife’s operational division, said, “We were pleased to welcome the HEI team into Queen Margaret Hospital in January and Victoria Hospital in June, recognising the benefits of an independent review.
“The reports identified a number of areas of good practice in both hospitals. Where areas of improvement were identified agreed action plans were immediately put in place, which are now complete.”
He added, “A report to the NHS Fife board in August explained the actions that had been taken.
“With regard to cleaning standards, it should be noted that NHS Fife’s compliance with national standards continues to be well above the national average.
“NHS Scotland National Cleaning Specification Report for April-June 2010 showed that NHS Fife had attained a 97.5% pass — the highest in Scotland — above the national average of 95.6%.
“Any areas where improvements are identified are actioned with immediate effect.”
In the inspections, Victoria wards were said to be clean but there were areas to be addressed, such as a dirty kitchen and sluice area on ward 10 and maintenance issues in ward 16.
More serious problems were identified at Queen Margaret, however, with inspectors criticising cleaning on wards and highlighting poor cleanliness of equipment and linen — some of which was worn and stained.
Contaminated mattresses were found in ward 14 and in accident and emergency, while in one instance tape to identify clean items was attached to a mattress which was “heavily contaminated.”