Healthcare’s helping hand
Jean-Henri Beukes, Managing Director of Ecocleen, explains why outstanding hygiene is paramount in healthcare establishments.
thoroughly. Healthcare workers at all levels, from care assistants to doctors, should be taught new procedures to ensure they recognise the importance of cleanliness.
Medical staff and carers should take part in training to make sure that they are fulfilling the responsibility of their role and that they are up for the task. It’s critical that they completely understand infection control procedures and follow the guidelines to ensure they are providing a safe environment for themselves and their patients. This training will also contribute to their general wellbeing, which is just as important to safeguard. Ultimately, medical practices should invest in their staff, train them and make them feel supported.
Superior hygiene in healthcare institutions plays a vital role in ensuring the risk of cross-contamination and subsequent infections is managed to avoid devastating consequences. During the current COVID-19 outbreak, this has been at the forefront of all medical establishments and although good hygiene was critical before, the pandemic has led to a global review of the procedures in place.
Those within the healthcare sector need to approach the required changes instantly and this not only includes cleaning and hygiene practices, but also ensuring that staff are educated and mindful of the physical environment. It’s also highly important that the sector understands how to best manage the health and wellbeing of its patients and staff.
Maintaining cleanliness
Cleanliness is paramount across all medical environments. So, not only within the wards and operating theatres themselves, but also within all public areas including waiting rooms, toilet facilities and cafeterias. It’s encouraged to spend a longer amount of time on cleaning procedures to eliminate any cross-contamination risks and reduce the spread of viruses. To stay in control of these environments, increased cleaning levels should be put into place, especially during infection outbreaks. More importantly, the correct products must be used to ensure that everyone within these buildings are kept safe.
Medical facilities will need to make sure their staff stay within small groups to reduce the amount of interaction with numerous people. This will help to safeguard themselves but also their patients from cross-contamination, reducing the risk of transmission. This will involve making changes to cleaning procedures and potentially introducing new daily cleaning schedules and work rotas throughout the day.
Staff education
Appropriate cleaning practices and further education should be implemented to help staff and others understand how to properly clean public areas, as well as equipment
48 | HEALTHCARE HYGIENE
twitter.com/TomoCleaning Hand sanitation and hygiene
Poor hand hygiene practices can also lead to further spread of viruses, not only among staff but also visitors and patients. High levels of contamination will occur when handling bodily fluids, even when gloves are worn, therefore meaning that the hands of staff are not fully protected. This means that hand washing frequently is still vital. Healthcare institutions may also need to consider installing more hand sanitisation units, focusing on door handles and main contact points, reducing the risk of cross-contamination.
The need for high-quality cleaning services has also dramatically increased after the hit of COVID-19. One of the biggest factors to consider is the quality of products used to clean medical facilities. Healthcare practices should consider using biological products rather than chemicals, as they promote a safer environment for staff and patients, as well as reduce the risk of long-term illness. Natural cleaning products also improve a building’s air quality, making it a more hygienic and comfortable environment.
There’s no written rule for how each healthcare establishment approaches health and safety during this unprecedented time. This involves working step-by-step and identifying the practice’s main contact points to reduce the risk of transmission. This will naturally bring better hygiene practice and decrease cross-contamination between staff and patients.
www.ecocleen.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
