19 June 2008
NHS trusts that are failing to meet government hygiene standards have been warned to improve quickly or face sanctions.
More than a quarter of the 391 trusts in England have said they are failing to meet at least one of the standards on hygiene, including hospital acquired infections and equipment decontamination, according to the Healthcare Commission.
Commission chief executive Anna Walker said the overall position had improved but too many trusts did not comply with the hygiene code.
They must meet the code's 11 standards by April 2009 or the new regulator, the Care Quality Commission, could remove their licence to operate. 'Our summary shows trusts don't believe they are there yet, and they only have ten months,' Walker said.
Just under a third of trusts failed to meet all the standards last year.
Health minister Ben Bradshaw added: 'We are pleased that infection control is showing significant improvement — reflecting the importance both the government and public place on this.
'But trusts that are not compliant need to take action immediately.'
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