21/04/2009

Hospital clean up boost

More than 600 new hospital cleaners are to be recruited after the Scottish Government allocated extra funds. NHS Borders will receive an additional £107,500 to employ an extra 12 cleaners and help improve cleaning standards as part of the Government’s drive to tackle hospital infections. SNP MSP Christine Grahame said the additional cash, part of a package of over £5 million for the NHS nationally, would bring some badly needed extra employment for the Borders. Ms Grahame who also chairs the Parliament’s Health Committee said:

"Ensuring high standards of cleanliness is a simple yet effective way to minimise the spread of infections.

"This is part of the government's continuing drive to stamp out hospital superbugs and reassure people about the quality of care they will receive should they need hospital treatment.

"But more cleaners won't just improve cleanliness in Borders hospitals, by providing new jobs it will also help the local economy."

The latest announcement follows last year's commitment that there would be no further privatisation of hospital cleaning and catering services anywhere in Scotland.
Existing contracts will be allowed to run their course, but health boards have been told not to extend or renew agreements with private firms.

The additional funding will be sufficient to fund 600 extra staff in a mixture of full-time and part-time posts, based on the current distribution of full- and part-time positions in the domestic workforce.
The Scottish Government is investing £54 million (over three years) in a range of initiatives designed to tackle Hospital Acquired Infections. These include an MRSA screening programme, prudent prescribing of antibiotics, zero tolerance on hand hygiene and a Healthcare Environment Inspectorate to carry out unannounced inspections of hospitals.

SNP It’s time.....