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On the 24 November 2008 the Healthcare Commission (HCC) will publish a report reviewing the results of 51 unannounced inspections of cleanliness and infection control that were conducted between January and July 2008.
A report issued by the HCC following a Hygiene Code spot-check visit to Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in January 2008 revealed that no material breaches of the hygiene code were found, and that the hospital has appropriate management systems for infection prevention and control in place.
The report showed that the Trust is effectively minimising the risk to patients of developing a healthcare-associated infection (HCAI), such as MRSA, and is meeting the 11 mandatory duties outlined in the government’s hygiene code, which came into force as part of the Health Act 2006.
MRSA levels at Milton Keynes Hospital are amongst the lowest in the country and we have continued to make steps towards preventing all avoidable infections. The number of patients found to have MRSA bacteraemia across the whole health economy over 2007/08 was 11 (including 2 cases of community-acquired infection). Attention has been concentrated on Clostridium difficile (C. Diff) and the rate was reduced by 70% over 2007/08. This reduction has been sustained and numbers of cases are consistently low.
The report issued in January 2008 confirmed that Milton Keynes Hospital:
- Has appropriate management systems for infection prevention and control.
- Provides and maintains a clean and appropriate environment for healthcare.
- Provides adequate isolation facilities.
Suggestions and recommendations from the HCC visit for further improvement in sustaining a reduction of HCAI’s have been implemented. These include:
- Schedules of cleaning rotas and frequencies are publicly available in all ward areas.
- Sinks have been installed at key entrances so that members of the public can wash their hands with soap and water before entering patient/ clinical areas.
- Signage has been improved to ensure that members of the pubic, as well as staff, are aware of the hand washing facilities available on all wards.
- An ongoing programme to reinforce the availability and use of foam hand sanitizers on entry and exit to clinical areas, and make the foam dispensers more visible.
- A review of signage reminding staff and visitors to use hand wash facilities on entry and exit has been undertaken and work has been carried out with our users to review the positioning of soap and foam dispensers.
- The numbers of isolation facilities are continually increasing. Ward improvements and new buildings mean that additional single rooms with en-suite facilities are included in the design of wards to support the care of vulnerable people.
- A more strategic approach has been developed regarding the identification of the Trust’s estimated need for isolation facilities. A Trust-wide Isolation Strategy is now in place and staff are encouraged to monitor and report on the findings arising from patient risk assessments in relation to Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs). Regular audits are undertaken by Matrons.
- A full deep clean of the hospital has been undertaken, and the Trust has committed to ensuring that regular deep cleaning is undertaken over the forthcoming years.
- We have continued to invest in our housekeeping and cleaning services. We have implemented a new operational and quality monitoring and management system (Credits for Cleaning) to aid our management of cleaning and monitoring standards.
None of the areas identified for improvement posed any risk to patents, the public or staff.
Tony Halton, Director of Infection Prevention and Control and Director of Nursing at Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Patient safety is our top priority and we continue to innovate to improve the cleanliness, isolation facilities and management systems in place.”
“Staff across the hospital have a zero-tolerance approach to infection. The results of the Healthcare Commission report, and the activities that we have since undertaken, should help to reassure patients and the public that everything is being done to minimise the risks of healthcare-associated infections.”
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