A REPORT on infection prevention and control procedures at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford has found a number of failings following an unannounced inspection by the national health watchdog.

The Care Quality Commission highlighted areas requiring improvement at the hospital on Headley Way, which is run by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH).

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Inspectors visited Oxfordshire's main accident and emergency site after the latest data revealed that the trust had experienced an increase in 'superbug' infections at the hospital such as Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is a type of bacteria that is resistant to common antibiotics.

Even more, an increase in bowel and skin infections from bacteria found in the hospital premises was also recorded.

Following the inspection, which took place on May 5, a summary of findings noted there were not 'effective' processes for monitoring cleaning frequency and completion at clinical level and in public areas, with inspectors not finding any evidence of cleaning schedules.

This meant there were gaps in assurance regarding cleaning in the hospital.

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The report added: "In the Emergency Department we saw sharps bins in non-clinical areas, and in clinical areas some were not in stands.

"We also saw bins that had not been closed correctly.

"During the inspection we saw lack of adequate storage throughout the trust, with boxes and other items stored on the floor."

Furthermore, signs and routing were not always clear for patients, visitors and staff, and not all areas had signs and floor markings were not clear, which led to confusion among staff, patients and visitors.

However, despite criticism, the CQC found that the service had a vision for what it wanted to achieve and had an infection prevention and control strategy to turn it into

action.

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In addition, staff felt respected, supported and valued, and OUH had an open culture where patients and staff could raise concerns about infection prevention and control without fear.

Following the inspection, The CQC did not rate the John Radcliffe Hospital and all previous ratings from June 2019 remain.

At the time, the health watchdog downgraded the rating of the trust, which also runs the Churchill and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington as well as Banbury's Horton General, from 'Good' to ‘Requires Improvement’ over the 'poor' condition of operating theatres, patient privacy and staff shortages.