Nurse plea over hygiene crackdown

Ministers said they expected the highest standards

Scotland's main nursing body has said disciplinary action against its members for failing to wash their hands should be used only as a last resort.

The call came as ministers announced details of a "zero tolerance" crackdown on hand hygiene failure among health workers across the NHS.

RCN Scotland said staff had to be given proper hand-washing facilities.

Health boards will also be required to publish results on how they are dealing with the control of infections.

Under the zero tolerance hand washing scheme, "serial offenders" who repeatedly fail to comply would face disciplinary action.

All staff should be in no doubt that the highest standards are expected

Nicola Sturgeon
Scottish health secretary

RCN Scotland director Theresa Fyffe welcomed the measures, but said incidents of hospital-acquired infections were "rarely the responsibility of an individual".

She added: "Disciplinary action should be a last resort and should only ever be considered once all measures to enable staff to meet hand hygiene requirements are put in place by health boards."

The Scottish Government has contacted health authorities by letter, reinforcing the need for a "zero tolerance approach to non-compliance for healthcare workers at all levels".

Health board chief executives, it added, also had a responsibility to ensure their facilities had the proper resources to ensure staff were able to meet hand washing requirements.

Hospital infection

Nicola Sturgeon, the health secretary, said: "Today's launch of the zero tolerance policy means all staff should be in no doubt that the highest standards are expected and must be delivered."

The government drive came after 55 people were struck down by the Clostridium difficile infection at Vale of Leven Hospital, Dunbartonshire, between December 2007 and June 2008.

C.diff was the primary cause of death in nine patients there, and a contributory factor in another nine.

A government-commissioned, independent investigation found there was no clear surveillance system in place, infection control procedures had failed and there were failings in leadership and accountability.