A new report shows that cleanliness remains below standard at a Western Isles hospital despite a poor report four months earlier.
The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate published a new report yesterday on an unannounced follow-up inspection at Uist and Barra Hospital on February 7 and 8.
Progress was made on three of the five requirements from the previous inspection in October, but these were only partially met according to Healthcare Improvement Scotland HAI (Healthcare Associated Infection standards).
These were to ensure staff complied with guidelines for waste management and management of blood and body fluid spillages, provided mattresses and patient chairs that are clean and safe to minimise risk of cross-contamination, and implement an escalation procedure for managing estates and maintenance issues.
But in the latest report, inspectors said that not all staff received infection prevention and control training, and that the “majority of staff they spoke with could not describe the correct management of blood and fluid spills,” and were unsure about how much chlorine disinfectant to use.
Inspectors also identified seven beds which were still “chipped and damaged,” and that patient chairs which were marked as damaged or contaminated before are still being used, with no risk assessment being done for them.
And a lock is yet to be fitted on the transportation container in the room which stores used, re-usable instruments which go to the central decontamination unit.
There were also two further requirements and one recommendation relating to training, risk assessment and infection control review.
The board has drawn up an action plan and we will continue to monitor the cleanliness of Uist and Barra Hospital at future inspections.
NHS Western Isles were contacted for comment but did not respond.