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View Full Version : Caithness General gets favourable inspection verdict



Nwicker60
19-Oct-12, 08:38
Staff take their responsibilities "very seriously" say inspectors

NHS Highland has welcomed the publication of the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) report of the unannounced inspection visit to Caithness General Hospital, Wick, which took place on 3rd and 4th September.
The HEI described the hospital and its patient equipment as being “clean and well maintained” and reported that there was good compliance with sharps and linen management and that staff were regularly seen washing their hands and using the hand gel available.
Pauline Craw, NHS Highland Rural General Hospital Manager, said: “We were delighted that the HEI report reflected the fact that our staff members take their responsibilities for infection prevention and control very seriously."
She continued: “It showed that there was evidence that appropriate audits were being undertaken, and that wards displayed quality improvement information on infection control and compliance with monitoring standards. The report also noted that the hospital met its public involvement obligations through its hand hygiene monitoring and environmental audits and by having a public representative on its infection control committee.”
Mrs Craw added: “Visits like this are great for us in that they help to provide reassurance to members of the public that the hospital is safe and clean. We also welcome the fact that they flag up issues which need attention. For example, we have acted on concerns that the hospital’s domestic cleaning schedules lacked detail by revising the schedules. Members of the public can be assured that we are constantly striving to maintain the highest standards of infection prevention and control. I am delighted that staff have been acknowledged for their hard work in ensuring that we have a safe and clean hospital for our population.”
The report required the hospital to develop clear roles and responsibilities for all staff involved in audit activity; to ensure that domestic staff have written and formal allocation of cleaning duties and responsibilities; and to put in place an effective system to ensure that patients receive appropriate information regarding infection prevention and control.
Among the six recommendations it made was that the hospital should carry out a risk assessment of patient bed bays where there is one sink to every bed.
An action plan for areas of improvement has been developed by NHS Highland and is available to view on the Healthcare Improvement Scotland website, http://www.healthcare improvementScotland.org/HEI.aspx.