Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS

Bio decontamination Ltd were contacted to supply decontamination due to an outbreak of the Norwalk virus in hospital wards.

Requirement

In January 2008 the health authority was experiencing outbreaks of Norwalk Virus (Nor virus) in a number of their hospital wards and biodecontamination ltd were engaged to use our Dry Vapour System.

The contract raised a number of issues that had to be addressed in order for the process to be successful.

The wards were;

Occupied
Long stay with routines (meal times, cleaning, physiotherapy, visiting etc.) that had to be maintained
Made up of multiple rooms, connected by air ducting and roof voids
Closed to new patients but would be opened at the end of our service due to bed occupation shortage

Solution

We worked closely with infection control, specialist cleaning unit, the ward sisters and the facilities department and agreed a strategy and time frame. The patients were moved out of the ward whilst the decontamination process took place and returned immediately afterwards.

The decontamination incorporated not only the wards, but sluice rooms, kitchens, toilets, rest rooms, all electrical items, medical equipment, bedding, soft furnishings, and anything else that was deemed to be in need of decontamination was included in the process.

Our monitoring and BI validated the process and tests carried out by the trust corroborated this.

We have carried out several ward decontaminations and are part of an overall ward decontamination strategy been developed by the Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS trust.

“We have used bio decontamination Ltd on a number of occasions for VHP treatment. On each occasion the work was conducted in a professional manner with minimal disruption to the hospital environment. Feedback from the ward staff was excellent stating the staff were courteous and undertook the task in an efficient manner bearing in mind the sensitivity of the environment.”

Maurice Madeo - Infection Control Nurse Consultant, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS trust.

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