British consultants to carry out HSE hygiene audit

BRITISH-based consultants have been signed up by the Health Service Executive to carry out the first national independent hygiene audit of the health services.

Desford Consultancy Ltd, a company with significant expertise, will complete the audit by the end of August and a final report will be ready by September. It will form the basis for the implementation of changes in working practices needed to meet the highest standards of cleanliness in hospitals.

Meanwhile, the HSE’s working group on hygiene in hospitals met with senior cleaning managers from hospitals on June 9. The results of this working group, combined with the results of the audit will direct staff training on hygiene and cleanliness and underpin a national set of standards.

Following the audit and report, a major training programme will be rolled out in October to cleaning services’ supervisors and then to cleaning services staff as well as being included into the induction programme for all new staff.

Director of the National Hospitals Office Pat McLoughlin said: “The HSE is committed to improving all aspects of our services and is actively working with all our hospitals to address hygiene issues.”