§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by date of publication, guidance he has given on the role and duties of the ward housekeeper(a) internally and (b) externally; and if he will place the guidance in the Library. [21789]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 10 December 2001]: Housekeeper information and guidance was first published and distributed as a leaflet in March 2001. More detailed draft guidance was made available to trusts from June 2001 with a request for comments and best practice examples suitable for inclusion in the completed guidance. The approved guidance on the role and duties of the ward housekeeper—"Housekeeping, a first guide to new, modern and dependable ward housekeeping services in the NHS"—was placed on the national health service estates website in November 2001 for public access. A short video film and complementing leaflet, "Ward Housekeepers, getting the basics right", showing how the housekeeper works within the ward team, were also produced and distributed in November 2001 to interested NHS trusts. Further copies of both the video and leaflet are available upon request.
Copies of the guidance and a copy of the video film have been placed in the Library.
Housekeeping guidance, best practice advice and information has also been given at a number of workshops held throughout the regions:
Two further workshops are scheduled for January 2002 in London and Leeds.
- 17 November 2000—London
- 31 January to 1 February 2001—Leeds
- 17 May—London
- 22 May—Leeds
- 6 June—Trent
- 8 June—North-west
- 12 June—West midlands
- 15 June—South-west
- 20 June—Eastern
- 21 June—Northern and Yorkshire
- 24 July—London
- 25 July—South-east
- 6 September—South-west
- 3 December—North-west.