Scottish hospitals banned from using external cleaners to combat superbugs
Hospitals in Scotland have been banned from using external cleaning and catering services in an attempt to reduce the spread of deadly superbugs.
It means each of Scotland’s 14 national health authorities will be responsible for catering and cleaning in-house to ensure hospitals comply with standards of hygiene.
Existing contracts with external companies will be allowed to run out, and hospitals will be prevented from making new arrangements and extensions. By 2011, only a handful of hospitals will still be under contract.
Take a look at our hygiene and cleaning products, such as disinfectants, disposable gloves, protective clothing and face masks, which can all help to reduce the spread of deadly bacteria.
For cleaning surfaces, we recommend these surface sprays and wipes – Ebiox Trionic, Chlor-O-Hex Spray, and Phoraid Trigger Spray.
To rid the skin of bacteria, we suggest Essence Hand Rub, Guest Hand Rub and Hibiscrub.
The new strategy was announced by the Scottish Health Secretary and is part of a new drive in cutting the spread of dangerous superbugs in the NHS.
The government has set a new target for health authorities to reduce the rate of infection by 30% within three years, including MRSA and Clostridium Difficile.
Last year there were 6430 cases of C.Difficile infections in Scotland, 597 of which were fatal.
The problem was further highlighted by an outbreak of the infection earlier this year at Vale of Leven Hospital in Dunbartonshire, which affected 55 people and was determined as a contributing factor or cause of the death of 15 patients.
Although rates of MRSA are failing, the Scottish government are determined to fight the C.Defficile infection.
To help health authorities with the change, £2m will be paid to each authority as part of a proposed £54m package for combating infections over three years, including a national MRSA screening programme, prudent prescribing of antibiotics and greater compliance with hand washing rules.
