NHS Lanarkshire: Blood Found On Maternity Ward Beds
Inspectors found blood contamination on beds in a maternity ward on a hospital visit.
They found that five out of six labour room bed frames and two general antenatal bed frames were contaminated with blood when they inspected Wishaw General Hospital in North Lanarkshire.
The inspection team also noted a number of blood splashes to the patient examination couch, floor and on a range of storage items in the paediatric treatment room in ward 19.
The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) has issued three requirements and one recommendation for NHS Lanarkshire to address.
The inspectors found the wards and departments were generally clean and there were good working relationships and communication between all staff groups, particularly ward staff and domestic staff.
They also noted generally good compliance with standard infection control precautions.
However as well as the blood contamination they noted a significant amount of rust on the patient trolley beds in the accident and emergency department, which they were told was due to the hypochlorite bleach used to decontaminate trolleys.
Significant amounts of sticky tape residue was found on all trolley heads as a result of immobilising patients with suspected spinal injuries.
Inspectors have ordered the health board to ensure all patient equipment is clean and ready for use to reduce the risk of cross-infection to patients, staff and visitors.
The inspection was carried out on Tuesday November 11 and Wednesday November 12 last year.
Susan Brimelow, HEI chief inspector, said: During this inspection we found the wards and departments were generally clean and there was good working relationships and communication between all staff groups, and there was generally good compliance with standard infection control precautions.
On some wards, we only focused on the management of peripheral vascular catheters (PVCs) - this is due to the high risks associated with invasive medical devices. As a consequence, we have issued a requirement that staff must adhere to local policy for the management of PVCs and complete the PVC care bundle documentation.
We found the vast majority of patient equipment in the hospital was clean, with the exception of the maternity ward where we identified some contaminated beds. Therefore, we returned to the hospital on Wednesday November 26 and found the beds we inspected were clean and ready for patient use.
We are also assured that NHS Lanarkshire is learning from the findings identified during our inspection to Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, carried out in September 2014.''
Inspectors also issued a requirement that information about healthcare associated infection is disseminated to patients, relatives and carers.
Rosemary Lyness, director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professions at NHS Lanarkshire, said: We are pleased at the positives highlighted in this report and that the inspectors found the wards to be generally clean with good compliance with standard infection control precautions.
They also identified the good working relationships and communication between all staff groups, particularly ward staff and domestic staff.
The inspectors recognised the improvements we have made following the inspection of Hairmyres Hospital last year. We are committed to further improving as we strive for the highest level of cleanliness and infection control in all our hospitals.
We have already put in place a detailed action plan to address the areas for improvement highlighted by the inspections. This includes robust processes and audits for the management of peripheral vascular catheters and cleanliness of patient equipment, including beds in the maternity unit.''