CSSA NEWS
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CSSA Press Release
Released on 18/03/2010
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE CSSA – 17th MARCH 2010
CSSA responds to the Care Quality Commission report on current hygiene standards in NHS trusts
The CSSA today officially responded to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) report on its inspection of the current standards of hygiene detected in NHS Trusts. The CQC report indicated that approximately a quarter of Trusts are failing to meet core standards on hygiene and are therefore subsequently compounding the risk of healthcare acquired infections.
Andrew Large, Chief Executive of the CSSA commented that “The CSSA remains concerned that cleaning is not taken sufficiently seriously by the Board and Management of some NHS Trusts. Cleaning contractors follow the guidelines set out in the National Specifications for Cleanliness (2007). They do not write their own guidelines, but follow the instructions of Trust management. As the Department of Health stated two years ago; “It is more important to ensure that a culture of cleanliness is embedded at all levels in a Trust, and every Trust should have a ‘champion’ to represent cleaning- related issues at board level”
With the inevitable reduction of future UK public sector spending it is anticipated that there will be a greater degree of outsourcing in healthcare cleaning. The CSSA holds the view that in light of both the CQC findings and the budget reductions it will be increasingly important for NHS Trusts to secure the best value for money in cleaning and other essential services. All Trusts should allow outsourced service providers the opportunity to demonstrate the value and expertise that they can offer.
Andrew Large also commented that “The CSSA has been at the forefront of the development of the new BSI PAS 5748 for healthcare cleaning.” He noted that the CSSA made several critiques on the largely unscientific criteria the PAS 5748 proposes for the assessment of cleaning as well as the disproportionate amount of control given to local NHS trusts. Andrew Large stated that in order to move towards an effective healthcare cleaning regime “There has to be greater emphasis placed on strengthening central Governmental accountability by having them enforce minimum cleaning frequencies within Trusts and for there to be a more verifiable and scientifically sound assessment system rather than focusing on who provides the cleaning service”
Notes for Editors
Established in 1967, the Cleaning and Support Services Association is the UK trade association for private sector employers in the contract cleaning sector. CSSA members are among the leading providers of out-sourced cleaning services to the NHS.
PAS 5748 is a draft BSI Publicly Available Specification for the cleaning of hospital premises.
If you would like to know more about the benefits that the association can bring to your business or are interested in becoming a member of the CSSA, please contact Andrew Large on 020 7920 9632 or email alarge@cleaningassoc.org. Alternatively, further information can be found on the website at www.cleaningindustry.org
Contact
Mahriar Hussain / Andrew Large
Email: mhussain@cleaningassoc.org
Telephone: 020 7920 9632
