HC Deb 28 March 2000 vol 347 c122W
29. Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to raise standards of cleanliness and hygiene in NHS hospitals. [115178]

Mr. Denham

Trust chief executives are responsible for standards of cleanliness and hygiene in hospitals. All acute trusts have the assistance of the infection control team. The controls assurance framework published on 22 November 1999 has a section relating to infection control, including specific reference to cleanliness. The Infection Control Nurses Association and the Association of Domestic Managers have published "Standards for Environmental Cleanliness in Hospitals", which NHS Estates is sending to all NHS trusts.