HEALTHCARE HYGIENE Relieving winter pressures
Paul Mulready, Marketing Manager of Northwood Hygiene Products, talks to Tomorrow’s Cleaning about how hospitals and healthcare settings can tackle winter viruses with simple washroom solutions.
The NHS is under seasonal pressure with rocketing rates of viruses that cause flu, COVID and Norovirus leaving hospitals packed with sick patients. A winter crisis seems to have become the norm for our hospitals at this time of year.
In December, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust declared a critical incident after more than 250 inpatients arrived at A&E. The week before, a third of all West Midlands ambulances were stuck outside hospitals waiting to admit patients at some point.
Then ITV News shared footage of ‘corridor care’ at Queens Hospital in East London which left elderly and vulnerable patients parked for days in cramped passageways instead of wards. It’s believed that around 40 patients were left waiting in the areas with limited access to essential medical equipment.
Some had to undergo examinations in full view of passers-by, raising concerns about dignity, privacy and safety. The week before, a third of all West Midlands ambulances were stuck outside hospitals waiting to admit patients at some point.
Things were further compounded as resident doctors planned industrial action from 17 December. Furthermore, underfunded GP practices have been pushed to the brink in what GPs warned could be the ‘worst winter ever’ for the NHS.
With overcrowded Accident & Emergency departments, ambulances stacked up and unable to offload people who need care, longer waiting times and understaffing, NHS workers have to manage increased patient numbers.
Seasonal pressure
The NHS is often at full capacity all year round, so even small increases in demand can have serious consequences. In November, hospital bed occupancy in England was consistently over 90%, with specific pressures driven by a significant surge in flu cases.
In December, NHS England reported that there were 2660 patients a day in hospital with flu, compared to 1861 last year. Alongside rocketing flu, the number of norovirus patients in hospital also rose by 35%.
Healthcare workers do a frontline role protecting the health of patients, and with flu, COVID and Norovirus all peaking, a clean and well-stocked washroom is essential to allow people to maintain good hand hygiene and reduce the spread of infection. To ensure washrooms deliver, there are a few factors to consider.
Controlling infections
One of the greatest challenges during the winter months is preventing infection in the first place. These germs can transmit easily via coughs and sneezes, but also through hand-to-hand contact, so it’s essential to promote a diligent hand hygiene programme at this time.
It’s worth mentioning here the role of public and workplace washrooms in public health: if they’re up to scratch and promoting good hand hygiene, they can help to reduce the number of people who attend healthcare settings with avoidable illnesses.
Functional washrooms are a must, so it’s wise to stock up on essentials, such as soap and paper towels to ensure good hand hygiene.
36 | TOMORROW'S CLEANING
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