14 Jun 2013
The leader of a cleaning industry body has added his support to calls for a national qualification for cleaners working in healthcare.
Stan Atkins, chief executive of the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICS), is backing the opinion of Denise Foster, the outgoing chair of the Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals (AHCP) that a qualification is needed to underpin the drive to increase standards of cleanliness in the sector.
Mrs Foster gave the keynote speech at the AHCP’s conference at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton and warned that the NHS risks more infections if it fails to introduce a new national pre-entry qualification.
Mr Atkins said the BICS has noted in the past that anyone is capable of cleaning, but people need to be trained to clean the environment they are working in correctly.
With more than 30 years of experience in the cleaning sector under his belt, Mr Atkins is of the opinion that the standards should resemble those used in places where food is prepared.
Copyright Press Association 2013