By Healthcare Facilities Today

A new report by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals (AHCP) says a good working relationship between nurses and cleaning staff help improve patient care and safety.

The report, Creating a Safe Environment for Care, examines the role of the nursing and cleaning staff in England and implementation of infection prevention and control strategies. 

According to an article on the Fierce Healthcare website, the report reinforces the importance of decontaminating surfaces and equipment to minimize the risk of infection caused by Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infections, Norovirus and antibiotic-resistant organisms.

"This is the first time the relationship between cleaning and nursing staff has been explored," Rose Gallagher, infection control and prevention advisor for RCN, said. 

Gallagher said cultural and organizational barriers sometimes prevent good relationships between the two groups. Organizations should use the report as a step to break down those barriers, according to the article.

The report is based on a series of workshops conducted in 2012 at RCN and AHCP events in England, the article said. The workshops focused on three attributes of a good relationship: effective communication; a supportive environment that encourages staff to raise concerns; and a culture of respect and value.

Read the article.