A MAJOR Scottish maternity hospital has been told to make a number of improvements following a visit from hygiene inspectors.
Stained and damaged equipment was found by the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) when it made a surprise tour of the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital, in Glasgow.
Its report, published yesterday, also raised concern that five out of 10 staff interviewed did not know how to clean up blood spillages correctly.
However, the report noted that overall the wards and neonatal units were clean and well maintained.
Susan Brimelow, chief inspector for HEI, said: "This inspection has identified several priority areas where the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital must make improvements. During inspection, we found reusable patient equipment was not clean and saw mixed compliance with national dress code policy among staff. We also found staff knowledge of how to correctly manage blood spillages was limited. However, patients spoke positively about the care and treatment they had received and staff demonstrated a good awareness of their roles and responsibilities for infection prevention and control."
During the inspection in April, the HEI found an adult bed mattress on the labour ward with a blood stain, a stained cot mattress on the labour ward and a baby changing mat which was damaged and worn. Elaine Love, head of nursing for women and children at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: "We recognise that there are areas we need to improve and we are actively working with our staff to ensure that the requirements from this inspection are fully implemented."
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