From: ian blenkharn@ianblenkharn.com
Category: News & information
Date: 25 Aug 2008
Time: 11:55:52 +0200
Remote Name: 86.146.8.18
Government proposals include provision to fine hospitals that breach hygiene rules by up to £50,000. NHS trusts that fail to meet minimum hygiene standards will be issued with fixed penalty notices with fines of up to £4,000. Obstructing an inspector or failing to provide documents or information will attract fines of £1,250. While the most serious offences, such as failing to act on an improvement notice following an infection outbreak, could lead to a maximum £50,000 fine.
The hygiene code covers infection control, decontamination and cleanliness and the most recent data shows that a quarter of trusts failed to meet at least one of the standards.
The magnitude of fines does not seem to be particularly great, when set against fines imposed, for example, under environmental or H&S legislation. But in reality, it's just public money going round in circles.
Maybe there is a better way.
There should be, but it is hard to imagine how such a penalty scheme could or should operate, without indirectly penalising the tax payer in general and those who use our NHS services in particular.