Big clean up gets going

IPSWICH Hospital is today undergoing one of its biggest ever cleaning projects in an attempt to crackdown on superbugs like MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C-diff).

Seventeen of the hospital's wards are being emptied of patients, beds and other furniture to make way for deep cleaning and upgrading of sluice equipment.

The project is taking place over the next four months and is costing more than £100,000.

Glynis Stansfield, head of quality at the hospital, said: “The purpose is to steam clean and disinfect, refurbish the sluices and bring the wards back to a good, clean standard.

“We are also de-cluttering at the same time.

“Patients will go back to wards which are completely steam cleaned and disinfected. We are getting the walls, the floors, every corner and every nook and cranny.

“All the hand basins are being steam cleaned, new curtains are being put in and every cupboard, bed, table, locker and chair is being removed and pressure washed and disinfected.”

Extra cleaning staff are being called in to help with the cleaning project, with skilled workmen needed to do the sluice work.

One ward is being moved at a time and patients and staff will move for six days.

At the weekend, Grundisburgh ward was moved to Orford ward and Kirton ward moved to Grundisburgh ward. This weekend, Kirton ward will return and Kesgrave ward will move to Grundisburgh ward.

The hospital said efforts are being made to minimise patient disruption, and that ward staff are on hand to answer questions.

Infection figures released in July showed Ipswich Hospital has reduced the number of MRSA cases, but is failing to meet targets for C-diff.

In June the hospital cut visiting hours to two hours a day and announced a £400,000 investment in cleaning in a bid to reduce infection rates.

N Is enough being done to crack down on superbugs at Suffolk hospitals? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk