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Case study: Minimising hospital infections risks with technology
The challenge
Opened in 1983, Hinchingbrooke Hospital is a 304-bed district general hospital providing a wide range of specialties, including:
- Ear, nose and throat
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopaedics
- Urology
- Breast surgery
- Gynaecology
- Vascular services.
The hospital also has an Emergency department and a Maternity unit.
As in every healthcare environment, minimising the risk of hospital infections is essential.
Solution
To minimise hospital infections, we work with the Trust’s ‘Infection Prevention and Control’ team to continuously improve processes, procedures, and identify and utilise innovative technology.
Once such innovation is a robotic scrubber drier, the ‘TASKI SwingoBot 2000’. Working independently alongside our own operatives, the machine has delivered both sustainability and efficiency benefits; reducing energy and water usage and overall cleaning time by 48%.
We have also introduced a location-based inspection assurance system, which provides a digital time and location stamp that records supervisor checks in each area. Its reporting functionality provides the Trust with complete compliance transparency.
Using our bespoke auditing software, we conduct approximately 40 joint audits each month. Results of these checks are independently validated by the Trust’s Compliance Manager.
Outcome
Our standards of cleanliness are consistently above target NHS National Cleaning Specifications scores.
We have always achieved high scores in the annual PLACE audit process. The site continually scores above 99% for cleanliness, placing Hinchingbrooke well above the UK national average for hospital cleanliness.
Our work with the Trust goes from strength to strength. Results from a recent NPS survey show that Hinchingbrooke is a strong ‘promoter’ of Mitie, with one respondent, who had awarded Mitie the maximum score, commenting:
“Mitie do an excellent job and are always willing to help. Their standard of cleaning is excellent.”
We also receive regular compliments from a wide range of Trust staff, patients and visitors:
“Mitie are open and transparent in dealings…Feels like a real partnership and not just a contractor lodged on site.”
Trust Associate Director of Estates and Facilities
“Thank you for all you do in keeping the hospital clean. You are a very valuable team and without you, we couldn’t safely run a hospital at all.”
Senior Medical Photographer
“Just wanted to let you know we have had some good feedback about levels of cleanliness in the hospital, so thank you to you and your staff.”
Lead Nurse/Deputy Director of Infection Prevention and Control.
In addition, in 2020 our exceptional service received external recognition when Hinchingbrooke Hospital was named, for the second occasion running, as a finalist at the Kimberly Clark Golden Service Awards – a leading awards programme for the Facilities Management and contract cleaning sectors in the UK and Ireland.
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