Patient tells of her disgust at spillage

A patient taken to Dudley’s Russells Hall hospital with an asthma attack was just getting her breath back when she noticed an overflowing bedpan left dripping onto the cubicle floor.

The hospital says cleanliness is its “highest priority”.

Sarah James, aged 31, of Hazel Road, Kingswinford, said she was horrified, and her mother Ann, who had accompanied her to the hospital, told nurses about the spillage. But the pair were shocked when a nurse used paper towels – and no disinfectant – to mop up the mess.

The episode raises questions about hospital hygiene but bosses say specially designed wipes are used to clean up spillages.

Ms James, a specialist analyst for npower, said: “I had an asthma attack at home and went to Russells Hall with my mum.

“I was given some medication and we were sitting there on the bed when we turned round and saw this bed pan sat dripping on the surgical trolley.

“It was absolutely disgusting.

“Then, as we were leaving the cubicle, my mum pointed it out, and a nurse came over and wiped it up with paper towels – no disinfectant.

“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

“They make such a big deal about you keeping your hands clean when you are going onto the ward, and then they leave bed pans dripping onto the floor.

“A good start would be basic hygiene.”

Mr Farenden, chief executive of the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, said the hospital had no record of the incident and so could not comment on the isolated case.

But he added: “Cleanliness is our highest priority.

“Our usual procedure for disposal of urine is a nurse will collect the filled urine bottle or bedpan and dispose of it in machines specifically designed for this purpose.

“In the event of a spillage, we use specially designed wipes to make sure the area is disinfected.”