WIREDGOV

Inspectors have called for a number of improvements at Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Sick Children in a report published this week.

While the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate's report found that the hospital complied with most of the healthcare associated infection standards, it also called for improvements in the quality of cleaning and better monitoring of cleaning.

The report recommended that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde should ensure that:

• infection control precautions in relation to waste management and the disposal of sharps were implemented
• all medical staff and allied health professionals observed the dress code
• patient equipment is cleaned in accordance with national guidance with the correct cleaning products

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:

"It's essential that our hospitals are cleaned and maintained to the highest possible standards, and that staff observe infection control procedures, to minimise the risk of infection for patients.

"This report highlights various areas that need to be improved at Yorkhill and I am assured that the health board is addressing these urgently. An improvement plan has already been put in place and I expect to be kept up-to-date with progress.

"We have seen a number of reports from the inspectorate in its first year. The vast majority of these have been announced inspections and we have seen evidence that health boards have been learning the lessons from these.

"The Yorkhill report relates to an unannounced inspection. The challenge now is for health boards and hospital staff to ensure that their hospitals are always ready for inspection. That will be the true test and will ensure that patients always get the high standards of cleanliness and facilities which they expect and deserve."

The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate operates independently of the Scottish Government and the NHS boards it inspects. It carries out both planned and unannounced inspections of hospitals. For administrative purposes, it is based with NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.

The unannounced inspection at Yorkhill took place on October 12, 2010.

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