04.09.12
Squeaky clean
How much cleaning should nurses be required to do as part of their official role? In an ideal world, 100% of their time would be dedicated to patient care, not scrubbing the floors.
Unfortunately in reality this cannot always be the case, and sometimes the need for a clean environment overrides their job description.
If NHS managers are seeking to scrimp on cleaning services, this is clearly a counterintuitive measure, which could lead to a rise in infections and a risk to patient safety, as well as putting additional pressure on nursing staff.
More clarity is needed to ensure that if nurses are required to clean in some circumstances, they are trained to do so. Then we can work towards creating a robust workforce of cleaning staff that must be maintained throughout cuts and organisational change.
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