BACK in May, the cleanliness and hygiene performance of the operating theatres at the Borders General Hospital was rated a resounding flop by health inspectors.

During an unannounced two-day visit, they observed poor cleaning techniques, blood spattered equipment and the inadequate disposal of gloves and masks.

They also noted that staff were failing to follow nationally agreed hygiene procedures aimed at minimising the risk of infection to patients before, during and after surgery.

“We saw staff moving from dirty to clean tasks without their personal protection equipment [gloves, masks etc] and without cleaning their hands,” stated the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate (HEI) in a grim account of its findings.

The inspection agency made no fewer than seven recommendations for ameliorative action from NHS Borders.

These demands related to the decontamination of hands, the use of personal protective equipment, the management of contaminated mop heads, the management of blood spillages, the use of correct cleaning methods, the removal of damaged equipment and a requirement to ensure all equipment was cleaned after each use.

By the time that damning critique was published in July, the local health board had drawn up and implemented a 16-week action plan to tackle the shortcomings.

At the end of September the HEI scrutineers returned for another unannounced visit to see if the promised improvements had, indeed, been delivered.

That inspection covered the hospital’s five theatres, each with their own scrub room, sluice room and preparation room, where equipment is stored, along with the department’s a four-bed reception area and six-bed recovery area.

And this week, the monitoring watchdog issued an upbeat report on that follow-up visit.

In what, in comparative terms, amounts to a five-star review, the HEI noted that all seven requirements issued after the May inspection had been met.

“We noted a marked improvement within the theatre department,” states the HEI. “We found that the theatre equipment was clean and there was good staff knowledge of blood and body fluid spillage management.”

The turnaround highlighted in this week’s report has been acknowledged by senior staff within NHS Borders.

“As an organisation, we responded immediately to the findings of the initial inspection and put in place a robust improvement plan,” said Evelyn Rodger, director of nursing, midwifery and acute services.

“This included the review of cleaning methods and documentation and the introduction of a new training programme through which every member of staff has been assessed on their knowledge, understanding and practical skills in relation to the correct cleaning methods.

“The improvements observed by the inspectors reflect the hard work and dedication of theatre staff, the infection control team and other frontline staff.

“We remain committed to ensuring our patients receive the best possible care and are confident our theatres reflect that commitment.”

Also taking a bow was Chris Richard, consultant in anaesthetics and intensive care, who added: “As the first hospital to be inspected as part of the HEI’s dedicated theatres inspection programme, we have had a unique scrutiny of our facilities and processes.

“I am delighted we have satisfied all the requirements of the two inspections, demonstrating the priority and effort NHS Borders puts into matters relating to patient care.”