Health trusts miss hygiene standard

The Healthcare Commission tested 51 trusts unannounced and found that only five adhered to Government rules.

Its sample represents around a third of acute health trusts in England.

The spot checks were part of the largest ever programme of hygiene inspections in the NHS.

While most of the failures did not pose an immediate risk to patient safety, the Commission found almost all acute trusts had more work to do to control the spread of infection.

In the areas where breaches did cause a serious risk, managers were told to take immediate action.

Three trusts were given improvement notices to tackle failures in decontamination processes. Just over half of the 51 trusts failed to keep all areas clean and well-maintained, the Commission said.

However, it found that most had improved in relation to leadership and ensuring uniforms were clean and fit for purpose.

Chief executive Anna Walker said the NHS trusts had made real progress, but she stressed that there were still "gaps that need closing".

From April next year the new Care Quality Commission will be able to impose fines on trusts which do not stick to hygiene rules.