A lack of clarity about the cleaning duties of nurses and environmental service workers (EVS) was identified by NHS infection control inspectors in Scotland, according to an article on the Nursing Times website.
The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate also raised concerns about the cleanliness of patient equipment and poor standards generally in some accident and emergency departments, the article said.
“We found occasions where some cleaning responsibilities were not clear between nursing and domestic staff, for example the cleaning of patient beds. In some instances, we were told ‘there is no time to clean’ between patient use,” the report said.
Many of its concerns, particularly about the cleanliness of patient equipment, were due to contaminated gurneys.
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