Bexley pensioners scared to go into MRSA scare hospital (From This Is Local London)

Bexley pensioners scared to go into MRSA scare hospital

1:28pm Tuesday 5th October 2004 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

PENSIONERS are now so frightened of being treated at Bexley's general hospital they are asking to go elsewhere.

Their fears of contracting MRSA at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, were reinforced by a recent BBC programme, says Bexley's Pensioners' Forum.

An undercover BBC reporter posed as a cleaner at the hospital and claimed to have exposed serious shortcomings in the hospital's cleanliness.

John Flunder, forum committee member, has written to the hospital's chief executive Helen Moffatt highlighting pensioners' concerns.

He told News Shopper: "People have never been afraid of going into hospital before.

"No matter what they tell us, people are in fear of going into Queen Mary's."

The forum is demanding the hospital takes action.

Mr Flunder told Mrs Moffatt: "As a result of the BBC programme, there can be no doubt in any reasonable person's mind, cleaning in this hospital is an absolute disgrace and immediate action must be taken against those responsible if the people of Bexley are to have peace of mind at the thought of being taken into Queen Mary's."

The forum has tabled a dozen questions about its cleaning contract with contractor Sodexho, which it wants the hospital administration to answer.

They include questions about the monitoring of cleaners' work to make sure cleaning is being done properly.

The forum has also written to MP Nigel Beard asking him to take action.

Meanwhile, Sidcup MP Derek Conway has also expressed his "gravest concern" at what the programme portrayed.

"The exposure of a lack of hygiene at the Queen Mary's site is simply unacceptable and every member of staff at every level must take personal ownership of the need to raise cleanliness standards.

"It will remain a mystery to many people why the company concerned still has an NHS contract".

A Queen Mary's spokesman said: "Queen Mary's is a safe, clean hospital and it is essential members of our community who need medical attention are not deterred from seeking it due to the BBC programme.

"Patients and members of the public can be reassured we take both infection control and cleanliness very seriously."

And a spokesman for Sodexho said: "We take our responsibilities very seriously and were disappointed by the standard of cleaning portrayed in the film, which fell short of the high standards we expect."

He said since the filming, training had been improved and staff working had been reminded of the strict protocols covering their work.