For any Practice Manager in the UK, maintaining a clean, safe and compliant healthcare facility is a complex responsibility. While clinical staff are focused on patient care, who is focused on the environment that underpins it all?
The answer lies beyond a simple cleaning rota; it requires an integrated Facilities Management (FM) approach.
Infection control is a system with many moving parts which is why we want to explore how professional commercial cleaning and proactive FM services are not just desirable, but essential for upholding the highest standards of UK healthcare.
Why Integrated FM & Cleaning Matters
- Supports Clinical Hygiene Protocols through proactive cleaning and stock management.
- Ensures Compliance with CQC standards and infection control regulations.
- Reduces Risk of cross-contamination and infection outbreaks.
- Streamlines Operations by offering a single, reliable point of contact.
Supporting Best Practice
A safe medical environment is one where best practices are easy to follow. While your clinical team is responsible for their direct actions, our role as your FM and cleaning partner is to create an environment where compliance is seamless.
1. Supporting Diligent Hand Hygiene
The “5 Moments for Hand Hygiene” is the main aspect of infection control. However, this protocol fails if the facilities aren’t maintained.
Our Role: Through our integrated FM services, we go beyond cleaning washrooms. We manage the supply chain for consumables, ensuring CQC-compliant liquid soap, alcohol-based handrubs (ABHR), and paper towels are always stocked and available.
Our commercial cleaning teams ensure sinks, taps, and dispensers are not just visibly clean but hygienically sanitised, removing another possible link in the chain of infection.
2. Enabling Correct PPE Usage and Disposal
The proper use of gloves, fluid-resistant face masks (FRSM), and gowns is vital. But what happens after they are used?
Our Role: Improperly disposed of PPE is a significant contamination risk. Our specialist waste management services, a core part of our FM offering, ensure that all healthcare waste, including used PPE, is handled and disposed of according to strict UK regulations. This protects your staff, your patients, and the public.
3. Upholding Respiratory and Cough Etiquette
A simple cough or sneeze can spread pathogens rapidly. Effective etiquette relies on having the right facilities in place.
Our Role: Our commercial cleaning teams ensure that clinical and general waste bins are managed effectively and emptied regularly. By providing a clean and well-maintained environment, we support the simple but crucial practice of using and immediately disposing of tissues.
Compliance Partnership
We Adhere to UK legislation. An FM partner is fluent in these regulations and builds them into every process.
The Health and Social Care Act & The National Infection Prevention and Control Manual
Our cleaning methodologies are designed from the ground up to meet the standards outlined in this key legislation and associated national guidelines. We provide detailed cleaning logs and schedules that serve as crucial evidence during CQC audits.
COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
Professional commercial cleaning involves powerful disinfectants. We take full responsibility for COSHH compliance, from performing risk assessments and training our staff, to the safe storage and use of all chemicals on your site. This removes a significant compliance burden from your shoulders.
Surveillance and Audits
We support your internal audits by providing clear, consistent data and maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness, ensuring there are no surprises when it’s time for an inspection.
An Integrated Solution
Why juggle multiple suppliers when one partner can provide a holistic solution?
Our strength lies in the combination of state-of-the-art commercial cleaning with intelligent Facilities Management.
This integrated approach means we:
- Safety Foundations: By handling the foundational elements of hygiene, compliance, and supply management, we free up your clinical team to focus on what they do best.
- Single Point of Contact: From your daily clean to your specialist waste disposal and washroom supplies, you have one expert team to call.
- Deliver Peace of Mind: You can be confident that your facility is not just clean, but is actively managed to uphold the highest standards of UK healthcare and is always inspection-ready.
Ready to build a safer, more compliant facility?
Contact Aspin FM today to discuss our integrated FM and commercial cleaning solutions for the healthcare sector.
