Specialist inspectors to monitor trusts, says health secretary

Health secretary Alan Johnson has announced that new teams of specialist inspectors will monitor hospitals to ensure standards of cleanliness are maintained.

In a statement from the Department of Health, it was revealed that 93 per cent of trusts had completed their local deep cleaning exercises, marking “just the beginning” for this type of programme.

Mr Johnson said hospitals will be expected to keep up such standards as a regular part of their hygiene plans but new inspectors will be dispatched to monitor facilities in England.

“Patients demanded cleaner hospitals and the NHS has responded,” he announced.
“Although we are nearing the end of this particular programme, it is just the beginning for deep cleaning in general.”

Social care and NHS delivery and system reforms are part of Mr Johnson’s role as secretary of state for health, in addition to managing finance, resources and strategic communications.