Issues with hygiene and cleanliness will be 'prioritised' at GP surgeries

CQC flagged problems with potential infection risk

Issues with cleanliness and hygiene at GP surgeries on the Isle of Man will be actioned as a priority.

That’s the pledge from government after external inspectors found issues at a number of practices – some of which posed potential infection risk.

The Care Quality Commission has escalated its concerns to the Department of Health and Social Care after reviewing all 13.

At the Southern Group Practice effective deep cleaning arrangements were not in place at the time of the inspection and cleaning was being carried out by staff due to a change of contractor.

Some areas of the practice did not meet infection control standards with several rooms and areas containing carpeted flooring and no arrangements in place for these to be deep cleaned.

At Hailwood Medical Centre appropriate standards of cleanliness and hygiene were not met and there was no programme of infection prevention and control audit in place.

Several areas of the medical hub were also deemed to be in a ‘poor state of repair’ which posed infection risk.

Village Walk, in Onchan, was also said to be in a poor state of repair – the building is leased from the government which is responsible for building maintenance.

Staff there told inspectors they’d experienced ‘continued challenges’ in getting improvement works approved.

It’s something Manx Care’s Executive Director of Nursing Paul Moore told Manx Radio they’re working on:

You can find the results of the CQC inspection HERE.