John
It is not normal for infection control to have a direct input into the procurement process for equipment. However, they will probably advise on cleaning processes to be employed.
Most equipment will have cleaning guidelines as part of the DFU.

Just as my input in mandatory here, so that we are aware of servicing costs,compliance with standards, compatibility etc, Our Infection Control input is also mandatory. We certainly don't want to purchase equipment that cannot be processed within our Infection Control gidelines.

The latest update:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7181837.stm

What happens to the cleaning regime in a PFI hospital where the hotel sevices and works dept. were signed over to the PFI "partners" and a 30 year contract specifing each job and task were signed over 5 years ago.

"Oh yes" the NHS will have to pay extra for the changes!

Lee

No one seems to have factored in the extra cost of replacing equipment that has been 'lost or thrown out' during this process. We have had to replace quite a lot of gear so far!

Not to mention overtime payment, and, dare I mention it, the cost of lost man-hours due to staff illness!

My guess is the Deep Clean will become an established part of hospital routine, and that the biomeds will become increasingly involved as this new bandwagon rolls through the hospital (and then restarts, in the best painting the Forth Bridge tradition)!

To my mind, the positive spin is that the biomeds get a chance to really dig out (aka PM) some of that kit that otherwise would have remained constantly in use or otherwise difficult to access. As in ICU, Theatres, Day Surgery and all the rest.

So let's see it as a new challenge, a good opportunity to remind the rest of the hospital that biomed still exists, and even a chance to put in a bid for extra resources.

And (lastly), don't forget that agency techs are always available if this exercise is indeed regarded as a "one off" (... which, as I say, I very much doubt) and extra man-hours are required to carry it out!

In the "golden old days" when a ward was shut for deep cleaning there was normally bed space available to cope, now with bed shortages and occupancy levels at over 95% what happens to patients whilst the deep clean happens?
Oh i remember we cancel operating lists.

Lee

Leave the patient in the bed and deep clean them as well just in case they have MRSA?
Robert

They should do that for some of the staff as well!!!!

Here's a bit of background reading!