ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

The chairman of the Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals (AHCP) in the UK has called for the introduction of nationally recognised qualifications and training standards for all National Health Service (NHS) cleaning staff.

Currently no vocational qualifications are required to work as a cleaner in the NHS and the AHCP believes many of them start work with little knowledge or understanding of the processes involved.

Denise Foster said in a speech to members recently: It is my view that no one should be able to work in healthcare cleaning without first achieving some level of basic professional qualification.

"Only by introducing minimum standards of training and knowledge of infection prevention and hygiene control will the objective of driving up standards of cleanliness in our hospitals, clinics and care homes be achieved."

Members of AHCP are responsible for cleaning and disinfecting high technology equipment in the NHS worth millions of pounds in operating theatres and other healthcare settings. The protocols and equipment used bear little relation to cleaning processes used domestically and in offices and industry.

www.ahcp.co.uk