IT to be included in hospital 'deep cleans'

IT and telephone equipment have been included in the Department of Health’s list of items be subjected to a rigorous cleansing, when all trusts are given a ‘deep clean’ to tackle infections such as MRSA and c. difficile. 

Every hospital in Britain is to undergo a ward-by-ward ‘deep clean’ within the next year to rid them of superbugs such as c. difficile, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced at the Labour Party conference in September.

 “Over the next year, for the first time, every hospital will receive a ‘deep clean’ designed to return our hospitals to the state they were in when they were built. A ward at a time, walls, ceilings, fittings and ventilation shafts will be disinfected and scrubbed clean,” he said.

The NHS has now published guidance on what may be included in a deep clean, including cleaning of telephones and IT equipment, as well as dismantling and cleaning beds and bedrails, ultrasonic cleaning and de-cluttering.

Strategic health authorities will be responsible for finalising deep clean plans and the DH advises: “SHA estates and facilities advisors can help PCT and SHAs to commission deep cleans that meet the needs of the site and deliver tangible outcomes by year-end.

“In some instances it may be more appropriate to replace items that cannot be satisfactorily cleaned, or to replace damaged finishes to make subsequent cleaning easier. Some trusts may wish to use the fund to invest in equipment in this context, in addition to the cleaning of equipment where it need not be replaced.” 

Deep cleaning funding is going out to trusts from this month. They will be given a £350,000 grant to carry out a deep clean, which will include the purchase of decontamination equipment such as ultrasound cleaners for wheelchairs and commodes. 

Health secretary, Alan Johnson, said: “To help staff continue to improve hygiene, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells will be one of the first trusts to receive funding under the deep clean programme I announced last month. This is part of a wider range of measures that all trusts need to take to tackle healthcare acquired infections and ensure patient safety. 

“We have already had a lot of success in reducing the incidence of MRSA," he said. "We have a target of reducing it by 50% - I want to get it down to zero. There are hospitals who manage that, and I think deep clean will make an important contribution.” 

The DH advises: “The money can be spent in any hospital setting but priority should be given to areas where an impact on healthcare associated infections or on patient and public confidence can be clearly demonstrated. This is revenue funding which, under normal finance rules, can include non-capitalised equipment purchases.”