Teamwork is clean work at Antrim Area Hospital

Cleaning staff at Antrim Area Hospital have recently been recognised at the annual Sharing Excellence Leading Quality Awards for their multidisciplinary team approach to intensive cleaning in hospital wards.

Hospital cleanliness is not only a vital ingredient in the fight against Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAI's) but is also important in its own right, as patients have the right to expect to be cared for in an environment that is clean and fit for purpose. Cleanliness is not just the responsibility of domestic services staff, but of the whole organisation.

An intensive clean is an enhanced cleaning process whereby a multidisciplinary team consisting of domestic, nursing and estates staff cleans the ward and everything in it. Using specialist cleaning equipment domestic staff thoroughly clean walls, furniture, fixtures and fittings. Nursing staff clean patient equipment and estates services staff remove radiator covers and light diffusers for cleaning.

Ann Hamilton General Manager Domestic Services said, "Cleaning in a healthcare environment is a technically very skilled job. The intensive cleaning programme enhances the daily ward cleaning process to ensure wards are kept meticulously clean.

"Patients are removed from wards for a short period of time to allow intensive cleaning to take place. The team has to work efficiently and effectively to meet the high standards this process requires.

"The intensive cleaning process in the Northern Trust has seen improvements in a number of areas; a reduction in the number of HCAI's, increased patient confidence in hospital cleanliness and an improved patient environment. The multidisciplinary approach to intensive cleaning has also improved team working across the various departments involved."

Page last updated:28 July 2010