Cleanliness standards at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital have been praised in a report by the independent Healthcare Environment Inspectorate.
The inspectors’ report, published after a two-day visit to the hospital in June, found staff at NHS Fife had made good progress in their efforts to protect patients from the risk of infection, although some improvement is required.
Earlier this year, the HEI criticised standards of cleanliness and hygiene after inspecting Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline and an action plan was put in place.
During the visit to Victoria, the A&E unit and wards 5 (paediatrics), 7 (infectious diseases), 9 (urology), 10 (orthopaedics), 14 (acute admissions medical unit) and 16 (respiratory) were inspected.
Clinical equipment, patient bed spaces and bays were found to be clean in all wards and there was also clear, strategic leadership in place, good risk assessment and strong patient management.
However, some problems were noted, including a dirty kitchen and sluice area on ward 10 that required immediate cleaning (this was done) and maintenance issues in ward 16 that prevented full cleaning in some patient bathrooms and toilets.
The report noted, “Although cleaning schedules were evident, there remains a lack of consistency of approach to cleaning across the hospital. The use of indicator tape to provide visible evidence that equipment is clean is being piloted in ward 16 however, similar schemes are not in place in other wards inspected.
“The inspection team recommends that NHS Fife continues to roll out their corporate cleaning schedules and these are consistently implemented.”
Also in ward 16, two sharps bins were found not appropriately dated and signed, while in ward 14 inspectors discovered a sharps bin that had not been correctly used, resulting in discarded sharps being placed on top of the box.
“NHS Fife must address the issues… to ensure adherence to the standard infection control precautions,” said the inspectors.
Areas for improvement are: accountability within the infection control team and responsibilities of the infection control manager need to be reviewed; ensuring staff have access to up-to-date infection control measures; and fully implementing policies on waste management and disposal.
Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said, “This report shows that Victoria Hospital has adopted a number of good practices, but there are areas for improvement and I would like to see NHS Fife implement them as soon as possible.
“We want the public to have complete confidence in the cleanliness of hospitals and the quality of patient care.”
John Wilson, chief executive of NHS Fife’s Operational Division, said, “NHS Fife welcomes the report from the HEI team following the recent visit to Victoria.
“The report identifies a number of areas of good practice in cleaning, risk assessments to ensure best practice in infection control, and communication within the organisation and with patients, visitors and the public.
“Also highlighted is the excellent progress in addressing issues raised in the Queen Margaret Hospital HEI inspection earlier this year.
“These positive comments are encouraging to staff who work hard to maintain a high level of service.
“We recognise improvements can be made in any process or service and note the areas of improvement that have been identified.
“An agreed action plan is in place and work on all areas of improvement is already under way.”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.