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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Hospital deep cleaning under fire | Hospital deep cleaning under fire |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The need for the £50m deep clean of hospitals is being questioned by two groups at the heart of the process - NHS managers and cleaning companies. | The need for the £50m deep clean of hospitals is being questioned by two groups at the heart of the process - NHS managers and cleaning companies. |
| Firms carrying out the deep cleans ordered by the government in England said it would have done better to fund day-to-day cleaning properly. | |
| The NHS Confederation, which speaks for managers, pointed to scepticism over whether infections would be cut. | The NHS Confederation, which speaks for managers, pointed to scepticism over whether infections would be cut. |
| The Department of Health said deep cleaning was only part of its campaign. | The Department of Health said deep cleaning was only part of its campaign. |
| Other initiatives in the pipeline include MRSA screening for all hospital patients and extra infection control nurses. | Other initiatives in the pipeline include MRSA screening for all hospital patients and extra infection control nurses. |
| But it is the deep cleaning, announced by the prime minister last year, that has attracted the most attention. | But it is the deep cleaning, announced by the prime minister last year, that has attracted the most attention. |
| The country's 1,500 hospitals, including major acute trusts, district general hospitals and community facilities, have until the end of March to complete the programme. | |
| We have picked up a degree of scepticism from a number of our members about this Nigel EdwardsNHS Confederation | We have picked up a degree of scepticism from a number of our members about this Nigel EdwardsNHS Confederation |
| Leading academics have already questioned how effective the process will be, with the Lancet journal accusing the programme of lacking scientific evidence and the government of pandering to populism. | Leading academics have already questioned how effective the process will be, with the Lancet journal accusing the programme of lacking scientific evidence and the government of pandering to populism. |
| But opponents of the deep cleans have been joined by representatives of the companies who, alongside in-house cleaning teams, are responsible for carrying them out, and of the managers responsible for overseeing them. | But opponents of the deep cleans have been joined by representatives of the companies who, alongside in-house cleaning teams, are responsible for carrying them out, and of the managers responsible for overseeing them. |
| Nigel Edwards, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said: "We would like policy to be based on evidence and we have picked up a degree of scepticism from a number of our members about this. | Nigel Edwards, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said: "We would like policy to be based on evidence and we have picked up a degree of scepticism from a number of our members about this. |
| "We would not want to see relatively new hospitals being deep cleaned; it would be a waste of money." | "We would not want to see relatively new hospitals being deep cleaned; it would be a waste of money." |
| And Andrew Large, the director general of the Cleaning and Support Services Association, which represents hospital cleaning firms, questioned the NHS approach to cleaning. | And Andrew Large, the director general of the Cleaning and Support Services Association, which represents hospital cleaning firms, questioned the NHS approach to cleaning. |
| About 40% of hospital cleaning services are outsourced to companies. Mr Large represents many of these firms, which are also being asked to carry out deep cleans. | About 40% of hospital cleaning services are outsourced to companies. Mr Large represents many of these firms, which are also being asked to carry out deep cleans. |
| Budgets | Budgets |
| He said: "What we have seen over the last few years is hospitals squeezing the cleaning budgets. | He said: "What we have seen over the last few years is hospitals squeezing the cleaning budgets. |
| "When they are up for renegotiation we are being offered less and being told to clean things less frequently. | "When they are up for renegotiation we are being offered less and being told to clean things less frequently. |
| "For example, where we would perhaps have cleaned the tiles every week, it may be every two weeks from then on. | "For example, where we would perhaps have cleaned the tiles every week, it may be every two weeks from then on. |
| "It sounds like only a little thing, but when it is applied to everything it makes a difference. If this had not happened I think infection rates would be lower. | "It sounds like only a little thing, but when it is applied to everything it makes a difference. If this had not happened I think infection rates would be lower. |
| Patients would much rather have really good day-to-day cleaning Joyce Robins, of Patient Concern | Patients would much rather have really good day-to-day cleaning Joyce Robins, of Patient Concern |
| "So it now seems strange to us that we are being given contracts to carry out these deep cleans. | "So it now seems strange to us that we are being given contracts to carry out these deep cleans. |
| "You have to wonder, if the cleaning budgets had not been cut would this be necessary? There is disruption to patients as wards have to be emptied. | "You have to wonder, if the cleaning budgets had not been cut would this be necessary? There is disruption to patients as wards have to be emptied. |
| "In my view, it would be a better use of money - and I think our members would prefer it - if the day-to-day cleaning was funded properly." | "In my view, it would be a better use of money - and I think our members would prefer it - if the day-to-day cleaning was funded properly." |
| Joyce Robins, of Patient Concern, also agreed with the criticisms. | Joyce Robins, of Patient Concern, also agreed with the criticisms. |
| She said: "Deep cleaning just seems like a gimmick. Patients would much rather have really good day-to-day cleaning." | She said: "Deep cleaning just seems like a gimmick. Patients would much rather have really good day-to-day cleaning." |
| Christine Beasley, the government's chief nursing officer, said hospital infections were not just about hospital cleaning and the other measures being introduced would be essential. | |
| But she said it was important to get both the day-to-day cleaning and deep cleaning right. | |
| "Nationally, we expect the highest standards. This is one of our top five priorities and I would be very surprised if chief executives in each hospital were not looking very closely at what goes into the budgets." |