Bodily fluid contamination found on hospital equipment during inspection

Inspectors found equipment contaminated with blood and bodily fluids on a follow-up visit to a hospital.

They also found dust and mould in some areas at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, when they carried out the unannounced visit in December.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) carried out the follow-up after an initial inspection from July 31 to August 2 last year raised significant concerns in relation to patient safety and maintenance of the hospital environment.

At the visit in December, they found that NHS Fife is undertaking ongoing improvement work but identified more areas for improvement.

They highlighted nine areas of good practice, and issued one recommendation and 13 requirements.

The inspection report states that in several areas, inspectors found equipment, including a commode, contaminated with bodily fluids.

It added: “Items also found to be contaminated with blood and bodily fluids were pat slides and damage to patient moving and handling equipment.”

Inspectors noted a build-up of dust within ceiling air vents in several wards and a small amount of mould in one ward, in the kitchen, a pipe, the showers, and the bottom of the shower curtains.

HIS issued requirements including that equipment should be decontaminated after use, and that vents should be appropriately monitored and cleaned.

The report noted that at the time of the follow-up inspection, Victoria Hospital was experiencing a range of pressures, including increased patient numbers, reduced staff availability and high acuity of patients.

As a result, NHS Fife was using additional beds in clinical areas, which inspectors said may impact patient dignity in relation to shower facilities.

The report noted: “Whilst we observed that patient privacy curtains were used to maintain privacy and dignity in ward areas that had additional beds, a lack of available shower facilities may have an impact on patient choice, dignity and fundamentals of care.”

NHS Fife said work is “well under way” to address the issues raised by HIS.

Donna Maclean, HIS chief inspector, said: “During this follow-up inspection we have been assured that progress has been made by NHS Fife, with all requirements relating to maintenance of the healthcare environment being met or partially met.

“Patients and relatives were complimentary about their care and the staff providing it. The areas inspected were calm and well-led, with hospital teams working together to provide compassionate care.

“The majority of staff we spoke with described Victoria Hospital as a good place to work, with a supportive and visible senior management team.

“However, further improvement is required in relation to maintaining patient dignity, hand hygiene, patient documentation, fire training compliance, the safe storage of cleaning products, and the safe management of waste.”

NHS Fife director of nursing Janette Keenan said: “We are pleased that the report recognises the considerable progress made to improve wards in the older part of the hospital, with significant refurbishments being carried out since the previous visits.

“We are also happy that inspectors observed an open and supportive culture amongst staff at all levels working in the hospital, which we work hard to foster, and is vital in enabling us to provide good quality, holistic healthcare.

“The latest unannounced inspection took place in December when, as the report notes, our hospital was under considerable pressure due to the rise in the numbers of those seriously unwell patients requiring inpatient care, and the impact of winter illnesses on staff availability.

“It is testament to the hard work and diligence of hospital staff that patients and relatives were so complimentary of the care being provided, even in such difficult and challenging circumstances.

“As is common with inspections of this type, areas were identified where there is scope for improvement. Work is already well under way to address these areas as quickly as possible.”