HC Deb 23 July 2004 vol 424 cc905-6W
Mr. Norman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to improve and update the hospital cleanliness rating system; [185334]

(2) what proposals he has to amend hospital cleanliness inspections to reflect the disparity between inspection outcomes and patient experience noted in the Healthcare Commission State of Healthcare Report 2004. [185622]

Mr. Hutton

The patient environment action team (PEAT) process for measuring hospital cleanliness was redesigned for the 2004 inspection round, following discussions with a number of representative bodies. The number of areas assessed this year was increased from 18 to 24.

This has significantly extended the information available to hospitals about their performance. A new rating system was designed around a five-point scale and introduced an "excellent" category. The scoring process continues to be weighted in relation to cleanliness issues in wards and accident and emergency departments.

The new national healthcare standards, published on 21 July, include cleanliness and performance against them will be rated in the Healthcare Commission's annual assessments of national health service bodies in England. The Commission will undertake a review of hospital cleanliness and infection control shortly.

Mr. Norman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has collected on whether the results of hospital cleanliness inspections differ depending on whether they are pre-announced. [185621]

Mr. Hutton

Since 2000, all patient environment action team inspections of hospital cleanliness have been unannounced.

Mr. Norman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data he collects on the(a) cleanliness and (b) hygiene of NHS operating theatres; and if he will publish them. [185629]

Mr. Hutton

Information concerning the specific cleanliness and hygiene of operating theatres is not collected centrally. Guidance was issued in the form of a standard measure of cleanliness for hospitals in the national standards of cleanliness 2002 (further revised in 2003). In this guidance, operating theatres are classified as very high risk and it is stressed that constant cleaning is deemed critical.

Mr. Norman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what(a) research he has commissioned and (b) evidence he has collected on the influence of the control of laundering of nurse and medical staff uniforms on hospital-acquired infection rates. [185633]

Mr. Hutton

The Department published evidence-based guidelines for the prevention and control of healthcare acquired infection in 2001, which included the standard principles covering the use of personal protective clothing and equipment.

It is for the chief executives of national health service trusts to ensure that nurses have enough suitable clothing and equipment to carry out their work effectively. The decision as to whether nurses' uniforms are laundered through the hospital laundry services or whether nurses clean the uniforms themselves is made locally.