Infection control inspectors’ message to hospital: Clean up your act now

THE management of one of Scotland’s largest acute hospitals has been ordered to make further improvements to protect patients and staff from infection, after a snap inspection found a bathroom in the infection unit being used as a storeroom, filled with dusty equipment and with dirt on the floor.

During their investigation at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, the inspection team from the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) also found an electrical distribution cupboard being as a clinical stores area and two isolation doors left open.

The health watchdog yesterday warned that inspectors had found “little evidence” of leadership from the infection prevention and control team.

The failings were uncovered when inspectors carried out an unannounced inspection in late July. The report states most of the areas inspected were clean, and ward staff appeared to be fully committed to the prevention and control of infection.

But the inspection team identified the need for further improvements in a number of areas, including the need for more leadership and proactive engagement by the infection prevention and control team with ward staff.

The report states: “Effective systems should be in place to remove or minimise any identified risks to an acceptable level to ensure the safety of staff, patients and visitors. Senior charge nurses stated that much of the current improvement work appears to be locally driven by the unit nurse manager.”

The report adds: “The inspection team found little evidence of leadership from the infection prevention and control team to drive improvement and to ensure that any improvements made are sustainable.”