Local Hospitals Not Meeting National Standards on Hygiene - Nicholson

1.15.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 26th Oct 2007

Two reports published by the Healthcare Commission in the last month have pointed to a failure to comply with national hygiene codes by the St George's and Mayday Croydon hospital trusts. Two out of three local hospitals are now in the bottom third for hygiene code performance.

The report shows that both Mayday Croydon and St George's Healthcare NHS trusts failed to comply with national hygiene codes over systems to protect patients and visitors from Healthcare Acquired Infection and clean equipment properly.

In a second report, the Health Commission's Annual Health Check, shows St Georges Hospital moving down from "Good" to "Fair" in terms of quality of services and remaining "Weak" in terms of its use of resources.

The national trend shows NHS trusts around the country improving whilst London continues to perform the worst. Lambeth Primary Care Trust itself achieved a good score on both quality of service, and resource use, and complied with all aspects of the hygiene code.

Recent research by Norman Lamb MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health, has also shown that St George's hospital has a bed occupancy rate of 88%. This is 4% over the recommended occupancy rate and can put patients at an increased risk of contracting super bugs.

Speaking about the results, local campaigner Chris Nicholson said:

"It's disgraceful that our hospitals have continued to under-perform in these areas, doctors and nurses deserve better and need to be free from Labour's unnecessary targets in order to improve their hospitals."

"After shocking examples of poor hygiene as seen in Maidstone recently, I'm very concerned that our two local hospitals have slipped into the bottom third for hygiene."

"The Liberal Democrats would end the unnecessary bureaucracy that Labour has imposed on the NHS. This will let essential staff get on with their jobs and mean cleaner hospitals, shorter waiting times, and more personalised care."

Notes

(1) The Healthcare Commission's 2006/7 'Annual Health Check' report and summary can be found at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/18_10_07_nationaloverview_new.pdf

(2) A list of hospitals which do not comply with the hygiene code can be found at: http://society.guardian.co.uk/health/table/0,,2105658,00.html and individual trust results can found at: http://2007ratings.healthcarecommission.org.uk/healthcareproviders/comparehealthcareproviders.cfm