Praise for staff as Lagan Valley Hospital hygiene standards improve

In January 2009 the Accident and Emergency Department of the Lisburn hospital attained a score of just 66% following an inspection by the RQIA. However, another inspection in July this year saw the department achieving a score of 91%.

There was also an improvement in standards in the Medical Assessment Unit, which attained a score of 95% in the recent inspection.

In the report the RQIA said: "The follow up inspection evidenced an improvement in both wards. The Accident and Emergency department moved from overall minimal compliance to a compliant level and the Medical Assessment Unit moved from partial compliance to an overall compliant level.

"It is notable that the Accident and Emergency department achieved 100 per cent in three sections within the audit tool, which were minimally compliant on the previous inspection.

"In both areas it was evident that refurbishment, redecoration and de-cluttering had been carried out and the majority of risk factors identified at the previous inspection had been addressed. The Accident and Emergency department is a busy area, which suffers continual wear and tear from moving equipment and further wall damage and chipped paintwork has occurred The Medical Assessment Unit should be commended for addressing all but five of these points.

"In the Medical Assessment Unit new cleaning schedules have contributed to the clean and overall tidy environment. Full compliance in safe handling and storage of linen has been achieved by both departments and staff should be commended for their improvement in practice.

"The Accident and Emergency department achieved 100 per cent scores in hand hygiene and the management of sharps and staff should be commended for the significant improvement observed in these areas."

The report concluded: "Overall there has been significant improvement noted and staff are to be commended for the concerted effort that has been made towards improving hygiene and infection prevention and control.

The Trust has worked hard to promote and communicate good practice to staff by the production of bulletin highlighting key findings of the unannounced infection prevention/hygiene inspections."

[email protected]