This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/7319160.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Hospital deep clean target missed | Hospital deep clean target missed |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The NHS is likely to narrowly miss its target to deep clean all the hospitals in England by the end of March. | The NHS is likely to narrowly miss its target to deep clean all the hospitals in England by the end of March. |
| Ministers have said they expect 93% of trusts to have completed the process by the end of Monday. | Ministers have said they expect 93% of trusts to have completed the process by the end of Monday. |
| They said the remainder had all started the cleans and would finish soon. | They said the remainder had all started the cleans and would finish soon. |
| But the Tories said it was a shambles as hospitals have had to dip into their funds as not all the money promised to cover the costs has materialised. | But the Tories said it was a shambles as hospitals have had to dip into their funds as not all the money promised to cover the costs has materialised. |
| Latest figures show £60m has been spent on the deep cleaning of all 1,500 acute, district general and community hospitals in the country. | Latest figures show £60m has been spent on the deep cleaning of all 1,500 acute, district general and community hospitals in the country. |
| But data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the Tories showed that just £15.6m has been released by regional health authorities to help hospitals pay for the cleaning. | But data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the Tories showed that just £15.6m has been released by regional health authorities to help hospitals pay for the cleaning. |
| Deep cleans are immensely popular with patients, the public and hospital staff Ben Bradshaw, health minister | Deep cleans are immensely popular with patients, the public and hospital staff Ben Bradshaw, health minister |
| News of the financial shortfall comes amid mounting criticism of the programme since it was announced last year by the prime minister. | News of the financial shortfall comes amid mounting criticism of the programme since it was announced last year by the prime minister. |
| Infection control experts have dubbed the programme a gimmick, claiming it will only have a short-term impact on hospital infections such as MRSA. | Infection control experts have dubbed the programme a gimmick, claiming it will only have a short-term impact on hospital infections such as MRSA. |
| And cleaning firms have said the government should instead have properly funded day-to-day cleaning. | And cleaning firms have said the government should instead have properly funded day-to-day cleaning. |
| But health minister Ben Bradshaw has hailed the exercise as a success. | But health minister Ben Bradshaw has hailed the exercise as a success. |
| "Deep cleans are immensely popular with patients, the public and hospital staff. | "Deep cleans are immensely popular with patients, the public and hospital staff. |
| "Far from being a 'gimmick', they are one of a series of initiatives we have delivered to make our hospitals cleaner and safer." | "Far from being a 'gimmick', they are one of a series of initiatives we have delivered to make our hospitals cleaner and safer." |
| Strategy | Strategy |
| Extra infection control nurses and MRSA screening also form part of the government's strategy to fight infection. | Extra infection control nurses and MRSA screening also form part of the government's strategy to fight infection. |
| Andrew Large, of the Cleaning and Support Services Association, which represents the firms responsible for carrying out the deep cleaning, said there were two main reasons for hospitals missing the deadline. | Andrew Large, of the Cleaning and Support Services Association, which represents the firms responsible for carrying out the deep cleaning, said there were two main reasons for hospitals missing the deadline. |
| "Some have had a problem freeing up wards of patients to allowing the cleaning to take part. | "Some have had a problem freeing up wards of patients to allowing the cleaning to take part. |
| "However, some others have actively decided not to rush the process. They will all get there in the end, I am sure." | "However, some others have actively decided not to rush the process. They will all get there in the end, I am sure." |
| But shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley branded the programme a "shambles". | But shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley branded the programme a "shambles". |
| "It is appalling that Gordon Brown has broken his promise to fund it and now the local NHS has ended up footing the bill," he said. | "It is appalling that Gordon Brown has broken his promise to fund it and now the local NHS has ended up footing the bill," he said. |
| He also questioned how effective it would be in the long run. | He also questioned how effective it would be in the long run. |