North's hospital watchdog highlights hygiene failures

A health watchdog in the North today demanded improvements in hospital hygiene after inspections raised concerns over standards in five hospitals.

Spot checks also found evidence of good practice but inspectors warned that a culture change was necessary to improve cleanliness.

The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) surveyed the Belfast City Hospital, Causeway, Craigavon, Downe and Altnagelvin hospitals.

Inspection reports pointed to sub-standard buildings and untidy staff common rooms, but also said basic cleanliness and hand-washing routines were an issue.

RQIA interim chief executive Alice Casey said: "We believe that significant improvements in hospital hygiene must be achieved and we will continue to undertake unannounced hygiene inspections until we are satisfied that the cleanliness of hospitals in Northern Ireland is of the highest order.

"At a time when hospitals are under considerable public scrutiny, we believe that these inspections will lead to increased public confidence in our health and social care services."

Teams of eight people, including a consultant in communicable disease control and infection control nurses, turned up without warning to hospitals in each health and social care trust area.

Ms Casey said: "In all hospitals visited, our inspection teams found elements of good practice as well as poor practice.

"Whilst many of the issues raised within the inspection reports require investment in the fabric of the buildings, others can be achieved through a change in culture within hospitals."

She said many of the necessary changes would not require further investment.

"Hygiene must be seen as everyone's responsibility," said the RQIA chief.

"Basic hygiene and housekeeping issues must become an integral part of everyone's daily work.

"Without a change in the culture there will be a continued barrier to quality improvement and patient safety."

In January, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey announced a package of new initiatives aimed at tackling hospital infections, including plans for a rolling programme of unannounced hygiene inspections of all hospitals.