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Hygiene code failures a 'wake-up call' says Healthcare Commission

Anna Walker

Anna Walker

NHS trusts have been served with a "wake-up call" to improve hygiene standards or risk service closures, following the latest annual health check declarations.

More than a quarter of trusts have told the Healthcare Commission they failed to comply fully with the hygiene code in 2007-08.

From as early as next April, all acute trusts, and possibly other sectors, will have to comply with the code to register with the new regulator, the Care Quality Commission. 

If they do not register, trusts will not be licensed to treat patients. 

But 24 per cent of acute trusts and 37 per cent of primary care trusts said they were not meeting all the standards included in the code. 

The real figure could be even higher, the Healthcare Commission warned. 

"Compliance has worsened in three areas: acting on safety notices, use of medical devices and decontamination of medical equipment"


Compared with last year, compliance has worsened in three areas: acting on safety notices, use of medical devices and decontamination of medical equipment. 

Healthcare Commission chief executive Anna Walker said: "It's incredibly important both for patients and the trusts themselves that these standards are met. 

"This is a wake-up call 10 months before formal registration."

Ms Walker said she hopes most struggling trusts will be able to register with conditions attached, rather than close. 

Registration for standards unrelated to hygiene will be introduced in April 2010. The government is currently consulting on what these registration requirements should contain. 

The Healthcare Commission will now carry out risk-based and random inspections to check whether trusts' self-assessments are accurate, before publishing their findings in October.   

Overall, 96 per cent of trusts say they have complied with core standards making up the annual health check, compared with 94 per cent in 2006-07.


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Reader Response

Added: Sunday, 22 June 2008 11:03 BST
Anonymous, Cheltenham, United Kingdom

Hospitals need to review their housekeeping arrangements. Consider employing the right number of housekeepers who take a pride in their work and work hard to establish high levels of cleanliness THROUGHOUT the hospitals. I have seen some ghastly admin departments from which staff must then enter clinical areas. Surely that poses a big risk to cross contamination? Think VERY basic when trying to address the HCC's observations.


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Added: Tuesday, 17 June 2008 11:24 BST
Anonymous, Uxbridge, United Kingdom

It is interesting to note that 24% of acute Trust claim not to comply with the HCC Hygiene code. No doubt the realistic figure will be higher. Rather than re do the excercise why not invest in finding out why?. For example, Firstly, when you have a 99% bed occupency it is hard to comply given the man power. Secondly, If you use staff as commodities to fill the gaps rather than let them provide continuity of care they are less likely to comply and more likely to cross contaminate. Thirdly, If the staff have insufficient equipment to deliver they are bound to cross contaminate. Fourthly, why not question those who provide window dressing?


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Added: Monday, 16 June 2008 17:57 BST
Anonymous, Kingston Upon Thames, United Kingdom

I heard Anna Walker on Today this morning. After saying that 25% of Trusts were failing to meet all standards she said HCC would visit all Trusts next year to improve things. What a waste of time and resources (both HCC's and Trusts'). Why not put the effort into the 25% who are failing, And why not twin each failing Trust with one that's doing well nearby and insist that they implement the same procedures in order to meet requirements. This surely is one benefit of a national health service.


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