You are in > manchester.com  > News > Warning over dirty ambulances

Health

Warning over dirty ambulances

26/11/2007

Urgent action and greater funding are needed to ensure that the UK's ambulances are cleaned properly, a leading union claimed today.

An investigation by Unison found that some ambulance workers are too busy to check their vehicles and clean them.

Some crews in the north-west said their ambulances were never deep-cleaned and if a patient was found to have a healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) such as MRSA and clostridium difficile (C.diff) then at best the vehicle would be given a quick mop-out.

Although cleanliness guidelines are in place, Unison says the resources to meet them are not being provided.

The union also claims that it is wrong for ambulance crews to be cleaning their own vehicles as they should be saving lives.

It highlights examples of good practice, such as the 'make-ready' system used by the London Ambulance Service.

Under this system on-site cleaners work throughout the night to deep-clean the fleet and re-stock ambulances with fresh kit.

And some crews in Scotland were praised for having dedicated cleaners in city stations.

Earlier this year the government announced that every hospital in England would be deep-cleaned in a bid to reduce HCAIs, but Sam Oestreicher, Unison national officer for ambulance staff, said "ambulances seem to have been forgotten" in the anti-HCAI drive.

"No one should have to travel or work in a dirty ambulance," he added.

"Ambulance cleanliness is a key factor in the battle against HCAIs and the standards laid down should be strictly applied and monitored.

"The additional funding needed to bring all ambulance services up to scratch should be made available by the government and not provided at the expense of other ambulance or NHS services."