'Clean hospitals' code for patents(U.K. to reqiure patients to supply own soap and toiletries)

This Is London ^ | January 26, 2005

[Stoat]

'Clean hospitals' code for patents
26 January 2005

All NHS patients should provide their own soap and toiletries in hospital as part of a 10-point code to be launched later this year, it has emerged.

The Patients' Association has produced the code in efforts to create cleaner hospitals and reduce the risks from hospital-acquired infections.

The code, revealed by Nursing Standard magazine, says patients should arrange for relatives to wash their nightwear while they are in hospital.

It also says that hospital visitors should go home and wash and change their clothes before coming to see a relative.

The code is being launched this spring at the Clean Hospitals Summit, to be attended by NHS chief executive Sir Nigel Crisp, Chief Nursing Officer Christine Beasley and Health Minister Lord Warner.

The Patients' Association is to set the NHS a 100-day challenge to clean up its act and reduce healthcare associated infections, such as the deadly MRSA superbug.

The campaigning group, whose president is Claire Rayner, wants patients to play their part in keeping hospitals clean.

The code also says that hospital visitors should be limited to two at a time, while patients in isolation, such as those with MRSA, should receive no visitors at all.

Ms Rayner, a former nurse, told Nursing Standard: "Clean hospitals are an important factor in the fight against hospital acquired infections.

"Some wards are disgusting with urine bottles lying around and no-one bothering to take them away.

"Floors are not cleaned underneath beds and often walls are splashed with blood. Lavatories are often foul."

[bd476]

NoControllingLegalAuthority said: "I believe this to be a widespread problem throughout the United States and it does relate to the financial pressures of cash-strapped hospitals.

I agree.

"...There are way too many administrative "Clipboard Carriers" and not nearly enough nurses..."

True, but getting rid of all the administrative staff would not make a dent into solving anything. Unfortunately the problem has become too extensive for that solution.

[boxerblues]

Would you mind my asking where this hospital was?

Cleveland, Oh, the last place you want to be when you are heathly is anywhere near a hospital.

[varon]

How does that make hospitals cleaner? Bringing some ghastly half-a-bar from home? That's cleaner?

Perhaps they feel it's a step up from issuing a half-a-bar from the previous patient ;-)

[oceanperch]

Yes on the Dr.

He is a $222 per hour GI specialist and worth every dollar.

We have a rule in our home due to my sons medical needs and OTOH my needs we never share a Dr. but in this case OK.

Reason being is I have been a guest in the "Arena" and have seen him work first hand with a full explaination while the procedure on my son was being done. He also has taught me to do my sons button changes saving us trips or ER calls for day surg.
and his repor with respect to the fact that I do my utmost in caring for my son and seek knowledge in doing so.

The local GI guy wanted to remove part of my intestine due to re occuring infections. Well I changed my diet two years ago (took me two prior to perfect it for myself) and that had a drastic change on the infections. Still the local guy told my doctor surgery, hence I got a second opinion and used my son's doc who looked at my do's and don't diet list and had seen I have only had infection once a year for past two, both a reaction to diet change IMo and both at the same date a year apart.

Also all my upper GI bleeding ulcers and reflux has been resolved by diet and lifestyle change.

He reported to my family doctor that surgery is not a need as long as I have no more than one infection a year.

I am pushing for none this year.