Hospital is given cleaning all-clear (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Hospital is given cleaning all-clear

6:29pm Thursday 31st July 2008 in

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A health watchdog found Bradford Royal Infirmary to be “unclean” during a snap inspection earlier this year, a report has revealed.

But a subsequent inspection by the Healthcare Commission in May found the standard of cleanliness had been improved and the hospital was “suitable for purpose”.

And Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust today said it is now “more than on target” to achieve no more than 22 cases of MRSA in 2008/9 after no cases were recorded in July.

The Trust was re-inspected by Commission inspectors on May 13, one month after it started its £3.7 million Hospital Hygiene Turnaround Programme. The environment of the three wards visited were found to be suitable for purpose and clean.

The Commission’s newly-published report states: “The standard of cleanliness on the first visit had therefore been unsatisfactory but had improved on the second visit.”

The Trust has said the turnaround programme did not come about as a direct result of the earlier inspection on March 12 and 13, but from a review of its performance in 2007/8.

The Trust met three of the four required duties in the Commission’s inspection, with insufficient evidence meaning a conclusion could not be made on one.

No breach of hygiene was identified in its duties to: l have in place appropriate management systems for infection prevention and control l assess the risks of acquiring healthcare-associated infections and take action to reduce or control such risks l provide adequate isolation facilities.

The Commission said there was “insufficient evidence” to conclude the Trust provided and maintained a clean and appropriate environment for healthcare.

However, a sub-duty to ensure premises where healthcare is provided are suitable for purpose, kept clean and maintained in good condition was met.

Despite Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust reporting last week that there have been ten MRSA cases in Bradford hospitals since April, the Trust has now said only eight of those were contracted at its premises.

Chief executive Miles Scott said: “While every case of MRSA is regrettable, we are currently more than on target to achieve no more than 22 cases in 2008/09.

“The Foundation Trust is working extremely hard to combat both MRSA and C.Diff and real progress is being made.

“In April we launched our Hospital Hygiene Turnaround Programme – in that time MRSA infections have dropped by almost 40 per cent compared to the same time last year.

“In May, we were inspected by the Healthcare Commission, which found that both Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital meet the standards set by the Hygiene Code, including the standards on preventing infections.

“We are doing everything we can to fight infections and would like to reassure patients that we are still one of the safest trusts in England to be treated at.”

During 2008/9 the Commission is inspecting all NHS acute trusts to check they are complying with the Hygiene Code.

Their visits are unannounced to ensure they see the hospital as a patient or visitor would.

Peter Dickson, medical director at Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust, said: “The Trust supports Bradford hospitals and other healthcare providers in dealing with the difficult problems of MRSA.

“We are committed to reducing the incidence of healthcare-related infections and we have developed an action plan which includes a targeted patient screening programme, allowing staff to manage the care of patients going into hospital to highlight those at risk of MRSA.”