Focus on cutting bed occupancy and increasing uniform provision will cut infections - Welsh Lib Dems

5.16.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 18th Jun 2008

Jenny Randerson wants help for staff to keep unifomrs clean

Speaking ahead of this afternoon's Assembly debate on hospital infections, Welsh Lib Dem Spokesperson for Health Jenny Randerson AM has urged the Assembly Government to more carefully prioritise spending in order to cut high rates of bed occupancy and provide a better uniform and laundry service.

Bed occupancy of over 90% is widely accepted as hindering decent cleaning of beds between patients. Lack of laundry facilities and changing places for staff also help infections to be spread around hospital wards.

Jenny Randerson said: "It is widely accepted that an acceptable rate of bed occupancy is around 85%. In Wales, it has been over 90% for many years. When beds are occupied for so much of the time, it is no wonder that they are not cleaned to such a high standard that is needed.

"Many hospital staff have to wear the same clothes all through their shifts and clean them in domestic washing machines. We need laundry facilities and changing rooms on site so that staff can change during their shift if necessary.

"The Welsh Lib Dems believe that the tight funding settlement needs to be focused on these and other key priorities. The Government must give up some of their gimmicks and spend money on frontline services. Hospital infections, and many of the other problems of the Welsh NHS will then start to improve."

Notes:

The Welsh Lib Dems have tabled the following amendments to today's motion:

1. Add as new point 3 and renumber accordingly:

Believes that a serious and pressing cause of healthcare associated infections relates to high levels of bed occupancy.

2.

Add as new sub point at end of motion:

dealing with the crisis in bed occupancy by carefully prioritising funding within the NHS

3.

Add as new sub point at end of motion:

bringing forward guidelines over hospital uniforms and clothing, including a return to on-sight laundry and changing facilities as well as a greater provision of uniforms

Ends/