Muckamore Abbey Hospital, Antrim - Regulation and Quality ...

11.0 Hygiene Practices
STANDARD 7.0
HYGIENE PRACTICES
Hand hygiene procedures; handling and disposal of sharps; use
of PPE; use of isolation facilities and implementation of infection
control procedures; cleaning of ward/department; staff uniform
and work wear.
Hygiene Practices
Effective hand hygiene
procedures
91
Safe handling and
disposal of sharps
100
Effective use of PPE 100
Correct use of isolation
N/A
Effective cleaning of ward 81
Staff uniform and work
wear
88
Average Score 92
Due to the nature of the ward the inspectors observed minimal hygiene
practices. The inspectors used questions to test staff knowledge.
Compliant scores were achieved in all but one section, the section on
effective cleaning which was partially complaint.
There was no evidence to indicate patient equipment was routinely
cleaned between patient use, the ward sister stated there were no
formal nursing cleaning schedules. Staff duty sheets were used to
indicated staff responsibilities for cleaning ward areas however these
did not detail all equipment used at ward level. Domestic cleaning
schedules were in place, both nursing and domestic cleaning schedules
need to be reviewed and monitored to ensure cleaning issues
highlighted in the environment section are on a cleaning programme
and cleaned appropriately.
In relation to hand hygiene when questioned not all staff were aware of
the seven step technique for hand washing; one staff member stated
four steps. The ward does not carry out hand hygiene audits, but at the
feedback session the member of staff from the Infection Prevention and
Control team advised that a suitable audit tool for areas, where there
would be limited observation opportunities, was under development.
When questioned nursing staff were not fully aware of the correct
dilution rates for disinfectants in use or aware of the correct colour
coding system in place for cleaning equipment.
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