MRSA Action UK: Damning report for King’s College Hospital and it’s failure to protect patients from MRSA
MRSA Action UK is dismayed with the findings of the report from the Care Quality Commission on it’s inspection of King’s College Hospital London and the many breaches of the 2008 Hygiene code. We are heartened that the CQC gave no announcement of the inspection, these are standards that are experienced by patients and relatives, and that is how the CQC should see it, hospitals should be on top of cleaning all of the time to keep infections at bay, and to provide a safe caring environment for patients.
More concerning is the fact that King’s College Hospital was granted registration without conditions because it’s own self assessment claimed compliance with the conditions of registration. If this hospital has been able to register without conditions, and is now found to have failed an inspection from the CQC who regulate our hospitals, how many more hospitals who registered without conditions are now in breach of the Hygiene Code?
The report although comprehensive in its approach missed an important point, this hospital, along with all the other NHS Acute Trusts in England and Wales, performed the much vaunted “Deep Clean” 15 months ago. The question that should be asked is why after the “Deep Clean” were standards of cleanliness not maintained, and how likely is it that the CQC will find shortcomings in other hospitals? Clearly the Deep Clean did not act as a catalyst for change in this hospital.
How has dirty equipment used for patients care been allowed to be used and to be found in this unacceptable condition? Why have the CQC inspectors found dusty and cluttered store cupboards, bathrooms with peeling paint, dirty taps, overflows and shower seats, and storage units with mould on the walls?
It is absolutely unacceptable that commodes were found to be soiled with body fluids and that there were mattresses soiled. One of the most worrying aspect of the report is that the staff interviewed during the inspection on the four wards inspected by the CQC had not been trained on how to clean and check mattresses or commodes.
Other hospital trusts have attained high standards and everyone knows their responsibility. Strong leadership and support from the top of the organisation to invest sufficiently in training and resources to keep the hospital clean, and to allow staff to take a pride in keeping the environment clean, a zero tolerance approach to avoidable infections, and the determination to make that happen should be the desired ambition of every NHS Trust Board. If it isn’t they shouldn’t be in the job, and the CQC should bring in a Board that has demonstrated that determination.
High standards of Hygiene is the most basic requirement of any hospital and the Management have a duty to ensure that those giving the care are trained to the highest standard on how to keep their environment clean.
Many of the points raised by this inspection report show startling similarities to circumstances at Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells Hospital 2 years ago. It is a sad state of affairs to see that the Government and the people governing King’s College Hospital have not yet learned the lessons from the reports of people dying and suffering needlessly at Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells. The failure to prosecute sent a message that it’s OK to be sloppy, complacent and mediocre.
We hope that the King’s College Hospital in having attained the steady reduction in Healthcare Infections over the last few years is “By Choice” but we fear it is more “By Chance”, and as a Charity campaigning for safer standards in our healthcare facilities we hope the CQC will keep the pressure on to ensure all our hospitals meet not only the minimum requirement under the Hygiene code, but that they far exceed it.
-01.png){kind=spacer}