Our Commitment To Cleanliness

Cleaning summary

Keeping the NHS clean and preventing infection is everybody’s responsibility from the Senior Partner to the healthcare cleaner. It is important for patients, visitors, the public and staff. Cleanliness matters, and to ensure consistency throughout the NHS, and to support hospitals and healthcare services, this commitment has been adopted in every organisation. This Charter sets out our commitment to ensure a consistently high standard of cleanliness is delivered in our medical practice. It also sets out how we would like you to help us maintain high standards.

We will

  • Treat patients in a clean and safe environment and minimise exposure to healthcare associated infections
  • Provide a well maintained, clean and safe environment, using the most appropriate and up to date cleaning methods and frequencies
  • Maintain fixtures and fittings to an acceptable condition to enable effective and safe cleaning to take place regularly
  • Allocate specific roles and responsibilities for cleaning, linked to infection prevention and control, that are underpinned by strong, clear leadership that encourages a culture where cleanliness matters
  • Have clinical leads who will establish and promote a cleanliness culture across their organisation
  • Constantly review cleanliness and improve performance
  • Take account of your views about the quality and standards of cleanliness by involving patients and visitors in reporting and monitoring how well we are doing
  • Provide the public with clear information on any measures which they can take, to assist in the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections
  • Provide the public with clear and precise information relating to the potential risk of contracting a healthcare associated infection. This will include highlighting other helpful information sources so that patients and public can access up to date local data
  • Provide structured and pro-active education and training to ensure all our staff are competent in delivering infection prevention and control practices within the remit of their role
  • Design any new facilities with ease of cleaning in mind

We ask patients, visitors and the public

  • Follow good hygiene practices which are displayed in and around the organisation
  • Tell us if you require any further information about cleanliness or prevention of infection
  • Work with us to monitor and improve standards of cleanliness and prevention of infection

Isolation Areas

All areas identified as Isolation Areas are cleaned using yellow colour coded equipment in accordance with the Trust’s Infection, Prevention and Control Policy requirements.

Cleaning Task Cleaning Frequency Responsibility
Sanitary Areas    
Toilets, urinals, sinks and taps 1 x full daily Healthcare Cleaning Professional
Mirrors 1 x full daily Healthcare Cleaning Professional
Patient Areas    
Chairs and couches 1 x full weekly Healthcare Cleaning Professional
Switches, sockets, data points, wall fixtures
  • 1 x full daily for touch points
  • 1 x full weekly
Healthcare Cleaning Professional
Walls (accessible up to 2m) 1 x full quarterly Healthcare Cleaning Professional
Ceilings and walls (not accessible above 2m) 1 x full monthly Woodlands Medical Centre
Doors, including ventilation grilles 1 x full monthly Healthcare Cleaning Professional
Ventilation grilles, extracts and inlets 1 x full monthly Healthcare Cleaning Professional
Windows 1 x full every 2 months External Contractor
Internal glazing 1 x full annually Healthcare Cleaning Professional
Radiators including cover 1 x full monthly Healthcare Cleaning Professional
Wheelchairs After each use Woodlands Medical Centre
Low surfaces 1 x full monthly Healthcare Cleaning Professional
Middle surfaces 1 x full daily Healthcare Cleaning Professional
High surfaces 1 x full weekly Healthcare Cleaning Professional
Curtains and blinds As local protocol, 6 monthly Healthcare Cleaning Professional
Waste receptacles 1 x full daily Healthcare Cleaning Professional
Dispenser cleaning 1 x full daily external Healthcare Cleaning Professional
Replenishment of consumables Check and replenish daily Woodlands Medical Centre
Floors    
Floors hard 1 x full daily Healthcare Cleaning Professional
Floors soft 1 x full daily Healthcare Cleaning Professional
Cleaning Equipment    
All cleaning equipment Full clean after each use Healthcare Cleaning Professional

National Cleaning Colour Coding Scheme - National Patients Safety Agency

All cleaning items including cloths, mops, buckets, aprons and gloves should be colour coded as follows:

Red

  • Bathrooms
  • Washrooms
  • Showers
  • Toilets
  • Basins
  • Bathroom floors

Blue

  • General areas including wards, departments offices
  • Basins in public areas

Green

  • Catering departments
  • Ward kitchen areas
  • Patient food service at ward level

Yellow

  • Isolation Areas

 

If you require further information regarding cleaning or wish to comment about the cleanliness of this areas, please contact the Practice Manager