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Unhygienic conditions

Posted By Standard of hygiene

"Unhygienic conditions"

About: Ipswich Hospital

(as a relative),

My grandchild spent a number days within the Sunshine ward and then again on a separate occasion. I do not know what has happened within the public system, but the floors were not mopped nor the bathrooms cleaned within this entire time. The floors were beyond filthy. When I was in years ago the floors were mopped everyday. This is unbelievable as you would think there would be a standard of hygiene within the hospital.  

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Responses

Response from Sandy Lewis, Senior Consumer Liaison Officer, Clinical Governance, Queensland Health - West Moreton 7 years ago
Sandy Lewis
Senior Consumer Liaison Officer, Clinical Governance,
Queensland Health - West Moreton

Submitted on 23/10/2017 at 1:53 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 2:07 PM

Dear Standard of hygiene

We are so sorry to hear your grandchild has been unwell – it must have been a very stressful time for you all. We certainly hope your little one is well on the way to a full recovery.

Your feedback has highlighted the need for us to look at factors that may be impacting on cleaning in the Sunshine (Children’s) Ward.

One of the issues we have already identified is that when our little patients have family and friends visiting, the cleaners are reluctant to disturb them. While we applaud the thoughtfulness of our caring staff, we need to work on ways that they can keep the floors well serviced, while still being supportive of patient and family needs.

While the bathrooms on the Sunshine Ward are cleaned every day, your feedback has prompted the Hotel Services Manager to check in with staff to ensure they have the support they need to meet this target.

You also may be reassured to know that in July 2017, a Hotel Services model redesign commenced at Ipswich Hospital. The ultimate aim of this project is to identify what we do well in Hotel Services, where we need to improve and ways we can improve. This project was initiated in line with West Moreton Hospital and Health Services’ commitment to ongoing safety and quality improvement.

Thank you again for sharing your story with us because you have helped us to look at ways we can improve our healthcare services. Best wishes to your family and we wish you all good health for the future.

Yours sincerely

Consumer Liaison Office

West Moreton Hospital and Health Service

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Standard of hygiene (a relative)

Thank you for your response

However, the majority of the time during the admission there was only one adult staying with my grandchild, so I do not feel that the reply that staff do not want to disturb people is a true indication. Cleaning staff were never seen during the 6 day admission; nor on the second admission for 2 days. The bathrooms were not even cleaned once. As you stated, in July a Hotel Services model redesign commenced - the admissions to the hospital were after this time, so I do not see that there was any quality improvement from this 'model' as no cleaning or mopping of the floors occurred. My grandchild was not left unattended as either their mother or myself were with my grandchild, so we are fully aware of what occurred regarding cleaning. If grandchild was placed on the floor their feet etc. where filthy dirty and I had to get hand towels to wipe my grandchild down to keep them as clean as possible. The only time I saw the floor mopped or room cleaned was upon a child's discharge.

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