Altnaglevin Hospital, Londonderry - 22 November 2011

Picture 4: Ward 40 damaged frame
of food service trolley
There was a shortage of bed
screens in Ward 40 and the
ward sister informed the
inspectors that it is difficult to
find sufficient replacement
curtains especially after
patient discharge. Also the
kitchen tray trolley was old,
worn and very damaged; it
should be replaced as it can
not be effectively cleaned
(Picture 4).
In Wards 3, 8 and 40 the notice boards were finished in felt material
which can not be effectively cleaned.
Additional issue
In Ward 40 the inspectors noted that the patient call bell was located at
the opposite side to where the patient chairs were positioned, the cord
of the call bell in use was not long enough to reach to the other side of
the bed.
6.5 Information
Cleaning schedules were available for nursing staff in all four wards,
however they lacked detail in outlining staff roles and responsibilities
for cleaning at ward level. Information posters on waste handling, linen
segregation, NPSA colour coding of cleaning equipment and
management of inoculation injury were not available consistently in all
wards. In Ward 31 some of the posters in the clean utility room were
old and torn. Information leaflets on MRSA and Clostridium-difficile
were not available in Ward 8 or Ward 40, however the ward sister did
say they could be printed from the internet as required.
There were no hand hygiene posters at all of the hand washing sinks in
either Ward 3 or 40 and Ward 40 did not have any advice leaflets on
hand hygiene available. Not all the information posters which were
displayed in Wards 3 and 40 were laminated and in Ward 40 some
were attached to cupboards with adhesive tape. At the entrance to
Ward 40, seven poster type pages had been attached to the door,
some were not laminated, some were duplicated; the need for all these
posters should be reviewed.
Recommendations
1. The trust should ensure that the systems and processes in
place for environmental cleaning, provide the necessary
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