An inspection report in to Ayr Hospital has been published.

According to the Healthcare Environment Inspecorate's report, the overall standard of cleanliness at the hospital is 'generally good', although there is room for improvement.

The report commended NHS Ayrshire and Arran for its work in preventing infection, in particular good compliance with the NHS dress code and hand hygiene procedures.

It also commended the health board for its good isolation practices. However, the report found that the general consistency of cleaning could be improved, and inspectors underline the importance of clarity with regard to ultimate responsibility for infection control.

The report called for a number of improvements, which include:

• Correct use of sharps bins


• Tightening up the handling and disposal of linen


• Ensuring clinical waste bins are available in wards

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:

"The Scottish Government is determined to achieve improved performance right across the NHS in Scotland, and to ensure that patients and the public can have complete confidence in the cleanliness of hospitals and the quality and safety of services.

"This report reveals a number of positive findings, however there are areas for improvement and I expect the Board to ensure that all of the required improvements are in place as soon as possible.

"NHS Ayrshire and Arran have published an improvement plan, and the inspectorate will also carry out further unannounced inspections to ensure that we have real assurance on patient care."

The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate operates independently of the Scottish Government and the NHS boards it inspects. It carries out both planned and unannounced inspections of hospitals. For administrative purposes, it is based within NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.

The inspection at Ayr Hospital took place on February 24-25, 2010.