Decisions about cleaning contracts should be taken at ward level. It is time to bring back matron. Taking your life in your hands Going into hospital may be an unsettling and painful experience. But most people assume there is a good chance that it will make them well. Unfortunately, poor hygiene standards in many NHS hospitals means that you could find yourself more ill coming out, than when you went in.
People are more likely to die of a hospital infection than they are to die in a road accident.
There were 3200 fatalities on the road last year. Pressure to hold down waiting lists means there is an ever-increasing throughput in the wards. The more people there are on the wards, the more difficult it is to control the spread of bacteria. Treating those who fall ill because of poor hygiene in hospital is is estimated to cost the NHS 1 billion a year. It is estimated that across all NHS Trusts infection rates could be reduced by 15 per cent by better application of existing knowledge and realistic infection control practices - the potential saving is around 150 million a year.