Nurses lack decontamination areas

Intravenous drip stands are a potential source of infection

Some nurses are having to decontaminate vital equipment in hospital bathrooms because they have no access to a dedicated cleaning room, a survey says.

A Royal College of Nursing (RCN) survey of 2,000 nurses found 37% had no access to a room for cleaning equipment.

Of those, a third have had to use a bathroom as an alternative.

The RCN described the results as "shocking", but the Department of Health said it was for individual trusts to make proper arrangements.

Every nurse should have access to round-the-clock cleaning services Dr Peter Carter Royal College of Nursing

Dr Peter Carter, RCN chief executive and general secretary, said: "Having the time and space to clean and then store essential everyday hospital equipment such as IV stands, commodes and patient cushions is crucial in keeping patients safe from dangerous infections.

"It's shocking that some nurses have no choice but to store equipment in hospital bathrooms.

"People need to recognise that fighting infection is about much more than just hand washing."

The RCN survey also found that more than one third (34%) of nurses who have responsibility for decontaminating patient equipment have never received any formal training in how to do it.

Four out of 10 nurses said their organisation did not provide cleaning services 24 hours a day.

Training budgets

Dr Carter added: "Every trust should protect training budgets for nurses and make sure that every nurse in the country is given the opportunity to update their infection prevention training.

"Every nurse should have access to round-the-clock cleaning services.

"Overall, infection rates have been going down over the past couple of years, but that's from a very high point indeed."

Shadow health minister Anne Milton said: "This is yet more evidence that nurses aren't getting the support they need.

"Given that three times as many people now die from hospital infections each year than die on Britain's roads it is simply unacceptable to find basic standards of hygiene are not being met because the resources aren't available.

"Nurses are being put in an impossible position. It's unfair on them and unfair on patients."

A Department of Health spokesperson said: "We have made substantial investment - an additional £270m a year by 2010/2011 - for the NHS to tackle healthcare associated infections.

"Trusts must make adequate arrangements for decontamination, out-of-hours cleaning and staff training in infection prevention and control."