From hospitals and specialist facilities to GP surgeries and community services, our regular contract cleaning improves healthcare hygiene
We’ve all been made more aware over the past two years of the inter-relation between health and hygiene. Fundamentally, the best healthcare requires that hospitals aren’t themselves a source of healthcare-acquired infection. But it’s also important to make all healthcare facilities into pleasant environments for inpatients, outpatients, visitors, and staff alike, as mental health and wellbeing reinforces physical health. Keeping clean is an essential aspect of facilities management in hospitals and other healthcare settings. In the UK, many NHS trusts and private healthcare providers outsource facilities management to specialist FM companies. And they in turn rely on specialist cleaners such as REACT to ensure the facilities they manage operate with the highest possible standards of hygiene. In this blog, we look at our regular contract cleaning services for FM companies in healthcare.
Healthcare must meet the highest hygiene standards
There are around 1,600 NHS hospitals, treatment centres and specialist care facilities in the UK, run by some 220 acute NHS trusts. (Some of these hospital trusts are complex structures with up to eight separate sites, including one of our major NHS clients in London). In addition, there are hundreds of private hospitals separate from the NHS infrastructure. And of course, there are many thousands of GP surgeries and other community healthcare services across the NHS too. Many NHS Trusts and private healthcare facilities contract out their cleaning to FM companies. With our specialist cleaning expertise, we’re able to work with those FM companies in turn – as well as with Trusts which keep cleaning in-house.
In the twenty-first century, the NHS has had a rigorous focus on cleaning. As part of its broader framework, the NHS published new national standards of healthcare cleanliness in April 2021 [> https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/B0271-national-standards-of-healthcare-cleanliness-2021.pdf]. One focus is on the need for a collaborative approach, together with clear lines of responsibility. The standards also include a renewed commitment to measure and benchmark performance in a uniform way. Compliance with the standards and the auditing processes are written into contracts with cleaning service providers to help achieve that consistency. By contracting out cleaning to a specialist cleaning company such as REACT, NHS Trusts and their outsourced FM contractors can ensure and demonstrate that standards are met.
Regular contract cleaning provides the basis for safe delivery of healthcare
Our dedicated healthcare contract cleaning team operates to leading industry standards and within the framework set out by the NHS and government. All our DBS-checked operatives are highly trained and well-equipped, with rigorous colour coding processes to avoid cross-contamination. They’re also medically fit and inoculated against blood-borne diseases to protect themselves from hazard. We provide flexible, high-quality regular cleaning of premises to maintain a clean, productive, and professional clinical area at all times.
Our first focus is on clinical areas. After all, these are the higher-risk areas when it comes to hygiene. In hospitals, this includes deep cleaning of wards, consultation rooms, and theatre areas, as well as kitchen facilities, restrooms, and storage facilities. In GP surgeries and other community healthcare facilities, we’ll concentrate on treatment and consultation rooms.
Whatever the facility, there are plenty of non-clinical areas that need regular cleaning too. We don’t overlook waiting rooms, reception desks, public areas, and corridors either. Our dedicated staff will ensure all public areas are clean and presentable to both staff and visitors at the start of the working day. Specialist cleaning materials and devices are available, including floor polishing and steam cleaning of any carpeted areas.
Infection control which enhances clinical care
A key purpose for cleaning hospitals is to reduce rates of hospital-acquired infections. Whether it’s tackling MRSA or other ‘superbugs’, a seasonal infection such as Norovirus, or an endemic disease like Covid, infection control remains of paramount importance. And indeed, our Infection Control Service is a particular area of expertise for REACT. With infection control, we pay particular attention to operating theatres and endoscopy facilities, as well as general wards. We are also a licensed waste carrier with a fully traceable waste disposal system. This means that we can undertake the handling and removal of clinical waste, including the safe disposal of sharps and offensive waste.
Our regular contract cleaning service provides best-in-class cleaning for healthcare providers. By keeping out of the way of clinicians, we support them in doing the best possible job. We know that daily rounds by doctors form part of the rhythm of the day in hospital to improve patient health. And our regular contract cleaning teams provide daily (and nightly) rounds of their own to improve hygiene.
To find out more about REACT Specialist Cleaning and our regular contract cleaning services in healthcare, contact one of the team today.
Telephone: 01283 550 503
Email: info@reactplc.co.uk
Website: www.reactsc.co.uk
Post by Shaun D. Doak
Shaun is the CEO of REACT Group plc., a business dedicated to specialist cleaning, hygiene, and decontamination. He is deeply committed to making sure that every one of our company’s clients receives the highest possible level of service. An expert in HVAC and commercial and industrial cleaning methodologies, Shaun has extensive experience in the facilities management and renewable services sector.