Report highlights improvements in hospital cleanliness

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey today said that the majority of acute hospitals in Northern Ireland had shown significantly improved levels of environmental cleanliness.

Thirteen out of the 18 acute hospitals have improved their score from 2006/2007 according to the second audit report into environmental cleanliness which was carried out by consultants KPMG.

Three hospitals, Altnagelvin, Whiteabbey and Ulster, significantly improved their scores from 64%, 61% and 69% (Band 4) to 84%, 87% & 87% respectively (Band 2). Only one hospital, The Children’s Hospital at the Royal Group of Hospitals, fell below a 70% score. Although the patient areas in the hospital were satisfactory, the standard of environmental cleanliness external to the hospital was unsatisfactory which impacted on the overall score. Excluding the external score from the overall total, would have given the hospital a mark of 75% and placed it in Band 3.

The Minister said: “This report is very positive and I am encouraged by the efforts made by the cleaning, maintenance and nursing staff across the health service in the significant improvements made since the last assessment of standards.

“I am particularly encouraged by the significant improvement made at Altnagelvin, Whiteabbey and the Ulster hospitals. I congratulate all staff at these hospitals for the standards they have achieved.

“I am disappointed in the score for the Children’s Hospital, although I accept that this score reflected the environmental cleanliness outside the hospital at the time of the audit and that this has already been addressed by the Trust. It is clear that the implementation of the Strategy is making a real difference to the quality and cleanliness of the patient environment.”

While the report highlighted that standards have improved in the majority of hospitals, the Minister said it also showed that more needed to be done to ensure that high standards are sustained in the fight against hospital associated infections.

He said: “Across Northern Ireland there are countless dedicated staff who work hard to deliver clean and safe hospitals. The second audit shows that their efforts are paying off and our hospitals have much higher standards of environmental cleanliness. However, we require the full co-operation of the public in helping to keep our hospitals clean and tidy.

“By acting responsibly we can all make a real difference. I am confident that through the action that we have already taken and the further measures that are underway, we can continue to improve cleaning and hygiene standards, and thus raise public confidence in the quality of care provided by our hospitals.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Cleanliness Matters Strategy (launched in October 2005) set out a 3 year implementation plan which aimed to improve standards of environmental cleanliness in all HSC Trusts, including a commitment to undertake an annual independent audit of the environmental cleanliness standards with public disclosure of the audit findings. Consultants KPMG were commissioned to undertake this second audit and their report is published today.

2. To allow sustained measurement and communication of progress made in the improvement of standards following the restructuring of HSC Trusts in April 2007, this second audit has refocused on the area which is of primary concern - environmental cleanliness standards in HSC acute hospitals.

3. The audit covered 18 HSC Acute Hospitals with 288 functional areas within these hospitals audited for the level of environmental cleanliness using the audit scoring methodology as outlined in a Toolkit that was issued with the Strategy. The assessment scores for each area were aggregated and areas were weighted according to risk (e.g. intensive care and operating theatres are designated as high risk) in order to provide a “snapshot” overall score of “Environmental Cleanliness” for each Hospital.

4. The report findings are presented in a straightforward and simple manner by using a descriptor for each score band. This provides a balanced “snapshot” of standards of cleanliness in the facilities together with a degree of analysis to identify key factors that may impact on the standards observed. The maximum score achievable is 100%.

Band 1: Reflects high standards of environmental cleanliness with only a few instances where environmental cleanliness is below standard.

Band 2: Environmental cleanliness standards in hospitals are generally satisfactory but there is room for improvement

Band 3: Again, environmental cleanliness standards in hospitals are generally satisfactory but there may be more than one off failures in environmental cleanliness indicating possible underlying problems with maintaining the facilities.

Band 4: Hospitals in this band are likely to have significant problems with their cleaning services and maintenance issues may compound this.

5. Band tables are available to download at the DHSSPS website.

6. The “Cleanliness Matter” Regional Strategy, supporting Toolkit and the Report of the Independent Assessment of Environmental Cleanliness Standards in HSS Trusts can be found at the DHSSPS website.

7. Media queries to DHPSSPS Press Office on 02890 520636. Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager Number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.