Providing Timaru Hospital with a specialist cleaning to implement an improved infection control system

The need

To partner with a specialist cleaning company that could implement an improved infection control system, provide long-term efficiencies, and provide a comprehensive training programme for staff.

28,188 m2 hospital area

160 patient beds

11,575 inpatient discharges 2019/20

Key issues

• Specialist cleaning

Due to the medical nature of the primary healthcare group, the hospital needed specialist cleaning to ensure their facilities were cleaned to the highest standard to prevent cross-contamination of harmful bugs to our patients and staff.

• Cost efficiencies

A long-term partner was required to identify efficiencies and provide value for money.

• Recognition for staff

A training programme was required to provide opportunities for staff to upskill and provide recognition.

• Agile response

An agile partner to work with them during the redevelopment of their hospital sites and entranceway and to reconfigure cleaning regimes as required.

• On the ground support

Having a local presence and existing resources in Timaru was important to SCDHB.

OCS was engaged with us right from the start of the process. I knew I would enjoy working with the OCS team when they did the site walk-around.

— Tania Kelly Procurement and Contracts Manager South Canterbury District Health Board

The OCS solution

At OCS, our customers benefit from the expertise of our healthcare colleagues around the world, brought together in our Centre of Excellence, which in turn enables them to deliver uninterrupted clinical excellence.

The New Zealand team was able to work closely with the Centre of Excellence, based in the United Kingdom, to understand and utilise best practices and innovations for use at Timaru Hospital. As part of this work, OCS identified that partnering with global hygiene solutions supplier Diversey would be the best solution for the customer.

Diversey is a leader in providing smart, sustainable solutions for cleaning and hygiene with offices around New Zealand and the world. Diversey’s mission is to protect and care for people through leading hygiene, infection prevention, and cleaning solutions.

By working in partnership, the Timaru Hospital mobilisation was such a success it has now become an OCS case study in excellence for New Zealand.

Infection prevention

A key aspect of Timaru Hospital’s need for a new cleaning service provider was to ensure its infection control standards were modernised and then cemented.

By working with Diversey, OCS was able to implement a new infection control system, one that was compliant with the standards set by the ‘Cleaning Standards for Victorian Health Facilities 2011’. The Diversey system consists of a colour-coded wet mop system, a trolley system designed for good control of cross-infection, and Diversey’s own chemical dispensing station. The system is easily monitored to ensure infection control standards are met.

Diversey’s floor mopping system is also more productive than other more traditional systems, providing a better value for money service adding additional benefits. Working with the hospital’s infection control staff, OCS also developed a comprehensive quality assurance system.

Lead up to ‘go-live’ date

In the weeks before go-live, the team held numerous meetings to organise products and supplies. Site visits with Diversey were undertaken to organise specific requirements, including equipment and supplies required for the site.

The new trolleys and equipment were made up two days before go-live and training was provided for managers before any equipment was delivered to the site. Diversey also installed their in-house dispensing unit for chemicals the day before go-live.

The staff at Timaru Hospital liked that we had gone above and beyond to help meet their requirements to meet the international standards for health care. We were able to build an excellent relationship with the hospital team very quickly by simply doing exactly what we said we were going to do and being responsive to change when needed.

— Ross Cameron General Manager – Southern Region, OCS Limited

The ‘go-live’ day

All equipment was delivered to the hospital the day before go-live, and before staff starting their work for the day. Diversey provided training on the new trolley setup and chemical handling.

Staff were ‘buddied up’ with an OCS manager or colleague plus a Diversey representative to assist them once they started their cleaning routine to ensure they fully understood the new procedures and systems.

Auditing for success

Auditing is an important part of the OCS service model. It provides reassurance that the job is being done well and provides insights into areas that could use improvement. It guides staff education and highlights where more resources are needed.

Together with OCS, the hospital infection prevention staff audit different areas of the facilities once a month looking for dust on surfaces, under beds, on desks and appliances and identifying any odours. They also use a black light to check that areas are being cleaned with the proper product.

Auditing together ensures that both parties are looking for the same things at the same time and is a valuable tool in providing feedback to both the cleaning and SCDHB staff.

Maintaining the relationship

Hospital staff feel well supported with relationships at multi-levels with the OCS team. They have daily contact with the OCS site manager and key stakeholders throughout the hospital, are supported by the local branch manager and team. In addition, OCS’s senior operations manager is based in Christchurch and travels to Timaru weekly to check in and ensure everything is running smoothly.

Training programme for staff

Every OCS frontline team member undertakes the comprehensive Excellence in Cleaning Training Programme. Its purpose is to extend staff knowledge, provide development opportunities and to maintain consistent service delivery.

OCS Stars acknowledgement and reward programme recognises the contributions of team members (individually and collectively) and celebrates those who live by the OCS Values of Care, Safety, Trustworthy and Expert. The programme has three levels of reward and customers are also encouraged to participate.

I was very impressed to have had several opportunities to meet with the OCS team. Maria and Ajith have been very accommodating at answering my questions about audits and products and have already made it to an IPC meeting. Ajith and I have already done our first cleaning audit together and has been great at communicating. It’s nice to see what is important to us is important to them.

— Angie Foster Infection Prevention and Control Nurse – Timaru Hospital