Hospital cleanliness

[skyep]

What are your experiences? I had an appointment last Monday. Went to the patients toilet & was really surprised at how unclean the room was! The bin was overflowing, the floor had not been scrubbed for a long time! I reported it to a nurse.

[chazza]

Terrible! I went to visit a relative in hospital (who had contracted MRSA twice and C Diff once in a year in two different hospitals) and while i was there I had to use the toilet (I used the one for visitors not patients)

There was only a tiny trickle out of the tap, little more than a drip, and no soap to wash your hands with. It is no wonder that viruses are being spread when basic things like that are overlooked

[daffy654]

I went to a hospital appointment last week,on arrival I needed the loo so off I went,when I came out of the loo I had to ask the cleaner to move,he was so eager to clean the already spotless loo that he had blocked me in.lol.

[skyep]

Hi chazza, I was using the day service ward, so I was a patient/ visitor. I was really gobsmacked! There were dirty hand marks over the door too! I am a cleaner at Manchester University & they expect a high standard of work from you there. I did voice my concerns with the nurse.

[tiggerblue10]

Mayday hospital in Croydon, Surrey, is notorious for its uncleanliness, however, the maternity unit is very clean. Obviously it has to be.

[skyep]

Can I ask chazza/ daffy, which hospital? Mine was North Manchester General.

[skyep]

Hi tigger, What's going on? I thought from all the news reports the hospitals had stepped up the fight against all these infections!!

[chazza]

It was in Belfast, I've visited her in both so i'm not sure which one it was but i think it was the Belfast City Hospital

[daffy654]

Mine was Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

[skyep]

It's all a bit scary daffy! xxx

[B00]

When I used the hospital loo in the A&E department in summer I dripped mud all over the floor (don't ask!)

When i had to return the day after, I used the same loo- and the mud was still on the floor.

[daffy654]

I had reason to be in Royal Preston Hospital the day before New Year's Eve and the place was really outdated and dirty,I couldn't believe the difference between there and Blackpool. They have electronically adjustable beds in Blackpool but had trouble finding a bed with a backrest or any pillows at Preston. I have no complaints at all about Blackpool Victoria,they have (almost always treated me very well and the place is usually spotless.

[tarapa]

My first son was born in St. Helier in Sutton, Surrey. It was a few years ago but it was the dirtiest, most horrible place I have ever been. There were red ants on the labour ward and the toilets and showers were disgusting.
More recently I had my second son in Conquest in Hastings. It was like a 5 star hotel. I had all on suite facilities, clean comfortable room overlooking a lake and wonderful staff. I cannot fault the Conquest in my own personal experiences although they have had some bad press lately.

[tiggerblue10]

Hi Skyep, luckily I very rarely go to hospital but last week I was in the maternity ward as my friend was having her baby. It was spotless which is more than can be said for the rest of the hospital.

Also the maternity unit didn't smell like the rest of the hospital. I can't stand the smell of hospital at the best of times. They green me out! Does anyone know why hospitals always smell funny?

[naomi24]

Hospitals may smell, but they don't smell of strong disinfectant like they used to. Those I've had experience of over the past few years are a complete disgrace to a civilised and wealthy country.

[Eve]

I've been to Manchester Royal, Hope in Salford and Bolton lately but only stayed in a ward Hope where it was very very clean, they used to have teams of suits coming round inspecting for dust and such, looking behind cabinets and everything and everyone used to use the special hand stuff when going in and out, especially the smokers.

The meals were well done as well, they had a little dining area in the day room and they served the meals through a hatch instead of bringing them round on trolleys and these great TV internet things for every bed where you can buy a card for access and keep topping it up.

Am off to MRI tomorrow for an appointment so will keep my eyes open :)

[skyep]

Hi - I think that is what's lacking at 'North Manchester'
People to check the work is being done & up to standard. I was there a couple of times the other week to have my blood checked & the ladies toilets there were also in the same state!!!! So this isn't a one off.

[gelda]

I've got breast cancer as you probably know, a couple of weeks ago I went for a checkup to see how the ulcer was, a few days later I noticed the wound was infected so the nurse took a swab, the results came back yesterday saying that I have MRSA. Looking back to my checkup I realised that the consultant hadn't washed her hands before she examined me so she obviously had picked up the MRSA from somewhere in the hospital and passed it on to me,being a consultant and touching wounds all day I would have thought she'd have been more careful. This was at the Royal Surrey. So if you have to go to hospital for anything please ask that anyone examining you wash their hands first, it's easily passed on.

[naomi24]

Gelda, I am so sorry to hear that. I wish you well.

My husband caught MRSA following minor surgery, and despite what the government and hospital authorities might want us to believe, lack of cleanliness and basic hygiene is the cause of hospital acquired infections. Cutting back on cleaning staff and equipment isn't saving the NHS money - it's costing millions in curing the resulting infections - but the idiots in charge don't seem to realise that. It's simple economics. Care for a patient properly the first time and he won't come back for further treatment.

Anyone going into hospital should have no qualms about asking staff to wash their hands thoroughly before every contact - and they should have no qualms about complaining in the strongest terms, in writing, to the management if the hospital isn't cleaned properly. Hearing of people like Gelda (who clearly has enough problems to deal with) catching infections infuriates me. It's preventable, and it's completely unnecessary.

[beejaybee]

I was a patient on a surgical ward & found that most of the time the bins in ALL 4 toilets were overflowing. Sanitary pads were just left on the floor as there was nowhere to put them. Another occassion I was only in for 3 days at the same hospital & had a ward to myself. Not once was it cleaned.

[skyep]

Gelda - That's terrible!!! What the hell is happening? Are we to blame for our put up with it attitude? We need to complain a lot more! The next time I visit, which will be quite soon, I'm going to be more voiced!!!!!!

beejay - Looking at the feedback here, there's more negative than positive responses, isn't looking good is it !!!!