Glasgow hospital slammed after inspectors find patient equipment covered in blood

Inspectors are demanding urgent action after patient equipment at one of Scotland’s largest hospitals was found to be spattered with blood and body fluids.

The failures at Glasgow Royal Infirmary were made public after a series of unannounced visits by the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI).

The concerns were escalated after problems persisted despite NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde claiming action had been taken.

HEI senior inspector, Alastair McGown, said the inspection: "We were particularly concerned about the standard of patient equipment cleanliness in the accident and emergency department, where we found equipment which was not clean.

We cannot, and will not, tolerate serious breaches of standards by healthcare professionals

"We took action on our first day of inspection and escalated our concerns to senior management.

“We cannot, and will not, tolerate serious breaches of standards by healthcare professionals.”

The HEI has now requested that the health board produces an action plan detailing how immediate improvements will be made to control the risk of infection.

In a statement, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said it was ‘very concerned at the findings’.

It reads: "As soon as we received verbal feedback from the inspector following the visit our director of nursing wrote to all 38,000 staff to highlight her deep concern at the shortcomings identified at the visit.

"We are already progressing with a full and detailed action plan to address the requirements and one recommendation identified by this inspection."

The health board said it had also increased local inspections.

"We cannot, and will not, tolerate serious breaches of standards by healthcare professionals and all other staff within any part of our healthcare system,” the statement says.

"We have been very clear and reinforced to all staff the importance of maintaining the high standards expected of them with regards to the healthcare environment for our patients."

We have been very clear and reinforced to all staff the importance of maintaining the high standards expected of them with regards to the healthcare environment for our patients

Commenting on the report, Health Secretary, Shona Robison, said: "Clearly at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary standards have fallen well short of expectations and some of the inspector's findings are simply unacceptable.

"Hospital cleanliness and infection control compliance is paramount in preventing and reducing the spread of infection and I have spoken to the chairman of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to make clear that I am expecting significant improvements at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.” "NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have told us how seriously they are taking this inspection report and have asked Healthcare Improvement Scotland to work with them to put in place policies and practices quickly that will improve quality and standards."