Trust’s clean bill of health

Dec 4 2008 by Paul Glynn, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

ST HELENS and Knowsley NHS trust has been named as the only NHS organisation in Merseyside and Cheshire to achieve top marks for good hygiene.

The trust, which manages Whiston Hospital, is one of only five NHS organisations in the country to meet all the requirements of the Healthcare Commission’s Hygiene Code.

The hospital watchdog published a report into a series of unannounced hospital spot checks which praised the trust for infection control and cleanliness, noting that there has not been a single case of MRSA at Whiston and St Helens hospitals in 2008.

The trust was required to demonstrate a clear strategy to tackle infections, effective systems for cleaning and decontamination and suitable uniforms for staff.

Ann Marr, chief executive said: “I am pleased that we have been rated so highly following these unannounced inspections.

“Our patients are our number one priority and we are committed to providing them with healthcare in an environment which is clean and safe.

“We place huge importance on good hygiene at the trust and our low infection rates are a tribute to the work of our infection control team and the support of all our staff, patients and visitors.”