For the protection of patients and staff, medical centres and clinics must be clean environments. Whilst you're no doubt aware of the importance of cleaning a medical centre both before and after every surgery or appointment, your cleaning checklist may overlook some areas that the new National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness have highlighted as needing attention.

External Surfaces 

Many surfaces and objects in a bathroom have high touch point areas we subconsciously forget about. Toilet roll holders, hand dryers, hand wash and paper towel dispensers are items touched multiple times in a day and can quickly accumulate bacteria, viruses and other particularly dangerous contaminants. The longer it’s left untouched, the more build-up will occur, hence why it is a requirement in The National Standards of Cleanliness for external surfaces to be cleaned daily to protect both patients, employees and surgeons. 

By hiring a reputable professional cleaning company, you can also make sure these untouched areas are cleaned frequently outside of working hours.

Floors 

Surfaces like tables might seem like the most germ-prone area in a medical centre, but the floors aren't far behind. Bodily fluids and other substances can land on the floor during the day, requiring prompt cleanup. The NHS Cleaning Standards require carpets to be vacuumed and hard floors swept and disinfected daily.

Rapid Clean has a track record of providing a high-quality, reliable contract cleaning service to medical centres across the south of England, which has resulted in many of our customers remaining consistently loyal. Find out more

Waiting Rooms

The waiting room, if not carefully cleaned, can increase the spread of viruses in a medical clinic. Therefore, it is vital that high-touch items, such as children’s toys and books, be disinfected daily. If the items are unable to be disinfected, such as soft toys and dolls, they should be discarded. If an item shows signs of wear and tear, or if it is getting old, it should also be discarded.

If there is something eye-catching in the waiting room, such as a fish bowl, cleaners should ensure that it is actively cleaned. Fish tanks are high-touch items.

Hard-to-Reach Areas

Although there are specific protocols in place for cleaning the actual equipment, the space surrounding (or underneath) shouldn’t be ignored. Hard-to-reach areas include corners, nooks and crannies, and behind any medical equipment or furnishings in an operating room. Items on wheels should be regularly moved so that dirt, grime, or other contaminants that may have migrated during a procedure are addressed in a timely manner.

Find out more about keeping your medical / healthcare centre clean.