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'Dirty' hospital trust on report

04/02/2008

Bromley Hospitals NHS trust has been issued with an improvement notice after a spot check identified dirty wards and ineffective hygiene measures.

In one ward Healthcare Commission inspectors found soiled commodes marked clean and ready for use and blood stains on a bed rail and on the wall behind another bed.

Thick layers of dust on curtain rails around patients' beds and on ventilation plates were found on three wards.

Inspectors also discovered bench-top sterilisers in theatres and in the day surgery unit with little evidence of a process to trace the origin, history and use of instruments being decontaminated.

The Healthcare Commission has ordered immediate changes to the trust's infection control practices in the three hospitals it runs in south London: the Princess Royal University hospital, Orpington hospital and Beckenham hospital.

Since the NHS watchdog's inspections in January the trust is now compliant with rules for decontaminating bench-top sterilisers.

A further visit will be made in March to ensure cleanliness standards in all areas are improved.

"There is serious public concern at the moment about infections in hospitals," said Healthcare Commission chief executive Anna Walker.

"Trusts and patients should be clear that we remain vigilant and will not hesitate to use our powers when it comes to enforcing the hygiene code."

"The cleanliness levels and procedures need to be improved [at Bromley Hospitals NHS trust]. This is a management issue. Managers must take responsibility for clarifying and resolving problems to protect patients from risk at all times."

Commenting on the improvement notice, the trust's chief executive Ian Wilson said: "I would like to reassure the people of Bromley and surrounding areas that we provide safe clinical care at the Princess Royal University hospital and that we take the prevention and control of infection very seriously.

"As a result, our hospital-acquired infection rates have been among the lowest in London over the last year.

"However, we are not complacent, we are keen to learn how we can improve still further, and continuously strive to keep infection rates to an absolute minimum. The Healthcare Commission's inspection report is a valuable expert view that will help us with that."