Hospitals are 'not clean enough'

Last updated at 10:19 15 December 2005


Two-thirds of hospitals are failing to meet cleanliness standards, surprise spot-checks have revealed.

The Healthcare Commission inspected 99 NHS and private hospitals during unannounced visits to prevent "late clean-up operations".

They found two thirds had unsatisfactory levels of cleanliness and mental health hospitals were the worst offenders.

In the worst hospitals, inspectors found food on the floor, body fluids left on equimpent and graffiti on walls.

The commission inspected a selection of hospitals from both previously poor and good performers.

The inspectors looked at medical equipment, beds, sinks, bedpans and toilets, as well as checking for spillages, blood, general stains and dust.

There were 16 hospitals which had serious problems with cleanliness and 43 others had much room for improvement.

Worst cleanliness offenders

The commission said that standards were markedly poorer in NHS mental health hospitals, which made up all six of those which fell in the lowest band - indicating serious and widespread problems.

Simon Gillespie, head of operations at the Healthcare Commission, said that the findings showed too many hospitals were failing to perform.

"If a hospital has dirty and poorly maintained facilities, patients will have little confidence that it can implement the more sophisticated precautions that are needed to prevent infection," he said.

The commission is giving all the hospitals inspected detailed individual results to help them make improvements.

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Steve Webb said: "This report is a wake-up call to a complacent Government that warm words and task forces are not enough to end the scandal of dirty hospitals.

"Basic hygiene is not an optional extra, it should be central to what is expected of every part of the NHS.

"Given the concern about superbugs, it is shocking that such low hygiene standards still exist in some of our hospitals, especially those treating some of the most vulnerable people in society."

One hospital is not included in the results as it is disputing its score.

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