Disgusted patients take over toilet cleaning

Surgical patients disgusted with hygiene standards at Rotorua Hospital have resorted to cleaning the toilets themselves.

Patients and their families say the weekend conditions they encountered were shocking, and reflect the sorry state of public hospitals where money is being wasted and nurses are rushed off their feet.

Rotorua Hospital officials have apologised for the conditions experienced by patients last month, admitting it was unacceptable for patients to have to clean toilets themselves.

But they say "accidents do happen" and the hospital relies on patients and visitors to tell staff when areas become messy.

Te Puke woman Val Carter visited her sister at Rotorua Hospital's surgical ward on November 10 and 11.

Mrs Carter said patients were avoiding the ward's dirty toilets and showers.

A patient who was recovering from surgery two days earlier found a scrubbing brush and rubber gloves and cleaned a toilet herself.

Rubbish bins in the ladies' toilets and showers were full, Mrs Carter said.

Nurses were embarrassed about not being able to do their jobs efficiently.

"We can't blame the nurses. Where is all the money going that Prime Minister Helen Clark says they are putting into hospitals?"

The board said November 10 and 11 was a busy weekend, when the surgical ward had up to 27 patients and some staff were away sick.

Five nurses worked the 3pm to 11pm shift on Saturday and two nurses and a health care assistant covered the night shift.

The hospital contracted Spotless Services for cleaning. Six fulltime cleaning staff were rostered to work Saturdays in the clinical areas and five on Sundays.

Toilets were cleaned three times a day and showers twice daily during the week. During weekends toilets and showers are cleaned once a day.

General manager of clinical services Dale Oliff said the level of service provided during the weekend in question was clearly insufficient.

"Unfortunately in a busy hospital ward, a toilet or bathroom can be soiled very soon after the cleaner has moved to the next unit.

"In this situation, the nurse or nurse aide is asked to deal with spills quickly and/or request urgent cleaning help."

Spotless Services' contract comes up for renewal next year. Based on the increase in patient numbers, Ms Oliff said, changes would be needed.

- Daily Post