Ambulances clean-up in war on bugs; Plan revealed as negative report due.

Byline: LIZA WILLIAMS

MERSEYSIDE'S ambulance service has introduced new hygiene measures today, as a damning report is due from a health regulator.

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has implemented a new policy to keep its ambulances clean, the day before the Care Quality Commission is due to release a critical dossier.

The ECHO exclusively revealed last month that seven out of 10 Merseyside ambulances do not meet hygiene standards.

But the report is expected to go into further detail about why the trust has not achieved vital cleanliness The report was a result of a recently unannounced inspection of the trust's vehicles.

The service says it wants to achieve improvements immediately.

The inspections are part of an NHS-wide fight against superbugs such as MRSA and C difficile.

The current swine flu outbreak has also brought NHS cleanliness further into the public eye.

The service says it want to achieve improvements immediately.

Professor Kevin Mackway Jones, medical director at NWAS, said: "We are taking this inspection report extremely seriously.

"The safety of both our patients and staff is an absolute priority to us and we have already put a number of measures in place to ensure that our vehicles meet the highest standards of cleanliness.

"The trust was disappointed to note that it has still not reached the levels required by the Care Quality Commission, but wishes to reassure patients that it is working as swiftly as possible to remedy this situation."

The measures will include additional investment into the deep cleaning of all vehicles by mid-September and an increased and sustainable programme of deep cleaning for the long term.

Specialist infection control professionals will also be employed to ensure cleanliness audits of all vehicles are carried out correctly.

The decontamination procedures will be reviewed, as will and training and learning materials for staff.

Equipment including masks will also be replaced on all ambulances.

Mr Mackway added: "NWAS remains committed to the highest levels of patient care and will work closely with the Care Quality Commission to ensure that all necessary requirements of the Act are adhered to by Winter 2009.

"I would like to reassure the public across the North West that we are tackling cleanliness as a matter of urgency and that our ambulances are fit for purpose. If you are in need of an ambulance, you should not deter from calling 999."

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CLEAN-UP TIME: Ambulances are to be given a major hygiene overhaul after a critical report