Hospital’s cleaning row still rumbles on

Controversial proposals to cut an hour from cleaning shifts at a Black Country hospital remain under consideration - despite extra cleaning hit squads being introduced on two wards to tackle an ongoing superbug problem.

Plans to alter Russells Hall Hospital’s cleaning rota, including introducing an out-of-hours rapid response team have angered workers who say it will make problems worse. Interserve Health, the firm responsible for cleaning, wants the 8am-1.30pm and 4.30 to 8pm rota scrapped.

It would be replaced by one shift between 8am-4pm with a rapid response team on call from 4.30 to 8pm.

Trials of the new working pattern were held at the Dudley hospital this year.

Consultation with staff and their representatives continues and no date for a final decision has been set.

Hospital bosses say discussions continue and an announcement on whether changes will go ahead will be made later.

Interserve Health says the change is in response to new visiting hours and meal breaks and will make cleaning more efficient.

The hospital last week said cleaning hit squads were introduced on two wards to tackle ongoing MRSA and C diff problems.

It follows 106 cases of C diff being reported between January and March. The number of times the two wards are cleaned 8am-8pm has risen with an out of hours rapid response team available for emergencies.

Chief Executive Paul Farenden said: “Additional cleaning ensures that every room or bay is throughly cleaned after each patient, including removing the curtains, cleaning the bed and all equipment. Patient safety is always our primary concern and our cleaning, infection control and clinical staff are working non-stop to stamp out the risk of infections.”