Conquest clean-up plan

It forms part of the national programme for hospitals announced by Health Secretary Alan Johnson in November last year.

The Trust has welcomed the additional national deep clean funding which will enhance its own ongoing campaign to reduce Clostridium difficile, MRSA and other hospital acquired infections.

Dr Umasankar, Consultant Microbiologist and Director of Infection Control said, "Infection control and patient safety is a priority for this Trust.

"We have made significant progress on reducing infections showing a year on year reduction in the number of hospital cases. However, we are not complacent. It is important for everyone in the Trust and the community to help reduce infection rates by understanding the importance of implementing good infection prevention and control at all times. This enhanced deep cleaning programme will decontaminate our hospitals."

The deep clean programme will be completed by the 31st March 2008 and involves a considerable amount of work across the hospital's 74 wards and clinical units.

Patients will be moved from an area about to be cleaned to one which has already been cleaned to enable the programme to take place.

The Trust's infection control staff will sign off each area as compliant with Department of Health guidelines before cleaners can move on.

Tina Lloyd, Lead Nurse for infection control, said, "We apologise to patients and their families who may be inconvenienced by being moved around while this deep clean is undertaken. We shall take great care to do the cleaning as quickly, efficiently and safely as possible to minimise disruption without compromising the aim of the exercise '“ to reach the highest possible standards of cleanliness."