Cleanliness of Lothians NHS staff failing to hit targets

Published on Saturday 21 November 2009 10:19

EVEN fewer Lothian hospital workers are washing hands properly, despite health bosses vowing to get tough to combat the threat of swine flu and superbugs.

New figures show NHS Lothian is the second-worst health board in Scotland for handwashing, falling below the 90 per cent target.

Today's figures come despite promises for tough action after the Evening News revealed in September that it was doctors and consultants who were the worst offenders for not washing their hands between seeing patients.

Medical director Dr Charles Swainson said at the time that those who did not obey the rules would face disciplinary action, regardless of their status within the NHS.

Poll: Does it worry you that handwashing levels have fallen in Lothian hospitals?

However, in the latest Health Protection Scotland handwashing audit, just 88 per cent of Lothian health staff were meeting targets, with only workers at NHS Grampian performing worse.

Surveillance staff monitored hospitals between 21 September and 2 October, and their study showed a fall in compliance from the July score of 94 per cent.

Margaret Watt, chairwoman of the Scotland Patients Association, said: "What happened to the heavy-handed approach they said they were going to take? It clearly hasn't worked. It is simply not acceptable, if these people don't want to wash their hands they should find another line of work, like a coalman.

"People are dying of things like C.diff and MRSA, do they not realise this? Handwashing is a normal thing to do, it's what our mums told us before we could even come to the dinner table."

NHS Lothian vice-chairman Eddie Egan had warned fellow NHS Lothian board members that some staff, particularly in accident and emergency, were simply too busy to wash their hands.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon has urged all health boards in Scotland to adopt a zero tolerance approach to eliminate superbugs, while the onset of swine flu has also pushed simple hygiene measures up the agenda.

Dr Alison McCallum, director of public health and health policy for the health board, said: "NHS Lothian has clear and strict policies surrounding hand hygiene and it is unacceptable some staff are not washing hands properly.

"We have performed above the Scottish Government target of 90 per cent in the last three audits and these results are disappointing. We know the areas involved and where we need to target our resources and a range of measures are in place already."