§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how the board member nominated to take personal responsibility for monitoring hospital cleanliness will be held responsible for any failure; [47008]
(2) what percentage of NHS trusts have not nominated a board member to take responsibility for monitoring hospital cleanliness. [47007]
§ Ms BlearsIt was a requirement of the NHS Plan that every national health service trust should nominate a board member to take responsibility for monitoring hospital cleanliness and report to the board following regular check-ups. Each NHS trust board takes collective responsibility, and overall accountability rests with the chief executive. The new national standards of cleanliness for the NHS, issued by NHS Estates in April 2001, set out clearly what is required.
There have been no reported instances where a trust has failed to nominate a board member to monitor hospital cleanliness.
§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the National Standards of Cleanliness for the national health service applies to the cleanliness of individual patients; and if he will make a statement. [48890]
§ Mr. HuttonThe National Standards of Cleanliness for the national health service apply to buildings in which health care is delivered, not patients.