Greg comes clean

SHOWING a nifty turn of speed with mop and duster, Bexhill and Battle MP Gregory Barker rolled up his sleeves last Friday to join the morning cleaning shift at the Conquest Hospital.

The MP was keen to see at first hand the reality of the cleaning regime at the hospital in light of well publicised concerns about MRSA and allegations about hygiene.

After meeting head housekeeper Linda Preston for a full induction briefing, he set to work cleaning on the Ashburnham ward.

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Afterwards he said: ""This was a really valuable experience.

"Contrary to what a lot of people think, the cleaning at the Conquest is not contracted out.

"Instead, a professional housekeeper is allocated to each ward and has a clear and defined role.

"I have to say I was really impressed by how well this system was working on the ward I helped to clean. The housekeepers are also much more than cleaners. I also helped them with the patient's teas and coffees and it is clear that on a small ward like Ashburnham, the housekeeper is a really integrated and valued member of the team."

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"Indeed, some patients actually find it easier to talk to the housekeeper sometimes rather than the medical staff! However all the patients I spoke to were very satisfied with the standards of cleanliness on that ward and couldn't speak more highly of the dedication and hard work of the Ashburnham housekeeper.

"But my shift was just on one ward, it wasn't a comprehensive audit and the very high standards were not replicated everywhere else.

"The fabric of the building obviously presents an increasing challenge to keep clean and worryingly the changing rooms for male cleaners were filthy!

"Perhaps the most striking thing though, which really hits home when you have a mop in your hand, is how difficult it is to maintain the highest of hygiene levels when patients have so many visitors and also bring in so many of their own belongings.

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"I am not for a minute suggesting that we change that, but it is absolutely vital that everyone visiting or working on a ward washes their hands and remembers that everyone going to the Conquest has a shared responsibility to fight MSRA!"