Hospital Cleaning Checklists - ensuring compliance

In the UK, standards relating to the cleaning of hospitals were last updated in 2007. Now, there are the new National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2021. This new set of standards regulates all cleaning tasks throughout the NHS, regardless of which department is responsible for it.  

With these new changes, it’s imperative that you understand the new standards to ensure that you remain compliant. Keep reading to learn more about these standards and how you can ensure you remain compliant.  

What is the purpose of hospital cleaning? 

Regulation 15 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 requires healthcare facilities to be “clean, secure, suitable and used properly and that a provider maintains standards of hygiene appropriate to the purposes for which they are being used.” 

In addition to this, the “code of practice for preventing and controlling infections, and related guidance, states NHS bodies and independent providers of healthcare and adult social care in England must adequately resource local provision of cleaning services. They should also have a strategic cleaning plan and clear cleaning schedules and frequencies so that patients, staff, and the public know what they can expect.” 

What regulations must I adhere to?

Within the UK, all medical practices are required to follow the standards as set out within the Health and Social Care Act 2008. This is then monitored by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to ensure that patients and other users of healthcare facilities remain safe.

These regulations are applicable to the following healthcare facilities: 

• Hospitals
• Clinics
• Hospices
• Doctors
• Children’s services
• Ambulances
• Care homes
• Dentists
• Mental health services

Hospital Cleaning Checklist Example 

The NHS has released a National standards of healthcare cleanliness 2021 appendix which demonstrates a suggested 50-point check. However, each organisation or healthcare facility will need to adapt their cleaning checklist to their own needs.  

Here are some examples from the list: 

1. 1. Bed pan (reusable), bed pan holder, patient wash bowls.  
2.  
3. 2. Bed pan washer / macerator. 
4.  
5. 3. Other sluice equipment including sluice sink and equipment holders.  
6.  
7. 4. Commodes. 
8.  
9. 5. Patient hoists. 
10.  
11. 6. Weighing scales including neonatal, seated and standing scales 
12.  
13. 7. Medical equipment e.g. intravenous infusion pumps, drip stands and pulse oximeters, medical gas bottles and stands, walking aids. Refer to local protocol for medical equipment connected to and not connected to a patient. 
14.  
15. 8. Wheelchairs (organisation owned). Refer to local protocol.  
16.  
17. 9. Patient fans - with accessible blade. Refer to local risk assessment and protocol.  
18.  
19. 10. Patient TV and bedside entertainment systems including head pieces. 
20. Notes and drugs trolleys and patient clipboards.  
21.  
22. 11. All chairs and couches (soft furniture). 
23.  
24. 12. Patient beds - frame, wheels, castors, head, foot, cot sides, nurse call and control panels, including carers beds in the clinical area. Non patient beds including oncall beds - clean as per local protocol. 
25.  
26. 13. Patient bed and trolley mattresses. Refer to local protocol for inspection of mattress integrity and ingression. 
27.  
28. 14. Patient trolleys and treatment couches. Trolleys with x-ray storage and oxygen cylinders clean according to local protocol. 
29.  
30. 15. Patient toys (premises owned). Refer to local protocol and risk assessment. 
31.  
32. 16. Switches, sockets and data points, trunking, handrails and wall fixtures 
33.  
34. 17. Walls that are accessible up to 2 metres. 
35.  
36. 18. Ceilings and walls - not accessible above 2 metres and ceiling lights. 
37.  
38. 19. Floor - including hard and soft skirtings.  

The checklist goes on to include other surfaces such as mirrors, bathroom fixtures, radiators, lockers and cleaning equipment.  

How can mpro5 help you remain compliant? 

Ensuring that the aforementioned standards are met is no easy task. It requires you to ensure that you have provided cleaning staff with the necessary tools to carry out their responsibilities and also ensure that your management staff are able to access the necessary documentation used within compliance checks.  

At mpro5, our healthcare management software can help you to navigate these obstacles and ensure that your operations meet the necessary regulations and standards. If you’d like to learn more, get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.