Mattress Infection at Hospital
Infectious diseases and viruses are apparently posing a big problem in two hospitals in the UK, due to mattress decontamination. Local authorities have acknowledge this and are taking immediate action.
“The Healthcare Commission have an important role to play in ensuring high standards and we welcomed and cooperated fully with their inspection of both Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals on 5th and 6th June,” says Ashford and St. Peter’s Chief Executive, Paul Bentley. “Whilst the initial feedback we received from the visit was positive we were concerned to learn on the afternoon of 13th June that an improvement notice was to be issued in respect of a special pressure relieving ‘air’ mattress decontamination room and a risk assessment on a bench top steriliser, at Ashford Hospital. Acknowledging these observations we have already taken action to start to resolve these issues including the immediate closure on the evening of 13th June of the small decontamination room.”
Ashford and St. Peter’s is a 534 bed hospital service with 66 beds on the Ashford Hospital site. Ordinary mattresses used for the majority of patients are cleaned on the wards and are not affected by the improvement notice. The small mattress decontamination room at Ashford Hospital, mentioned in the improvement notice, was used to hand clean two or three special pressure relieving ‘air’ mattresses per week. Due to the nature of services at Ashford Hospital the turnover on these special pressure relieving ‘air’ mattresses is small and does not impact on the delivery of clinical services.
Mattress decontamination at St. Peter’s Hospital is entirely separate and is not identified in the improvement notice. Patient services at both Ashford and St. Peter’s have not been affected by the closure of the small decontamination facility at Ashford.
Via Medical Today
Tags: Air Mattress, air mattresses, bed, beds, decontamination room, diseases, ensuring high standards, hospitals, hospitals in the uk, mattress, mattresses
Loading ...
