“DISGUSTING and filthy.”

That is how a disabled Hampshire woman has described conditions at a Hampshire hospital where bosses could be set to cut back on cleaning.

Now Angela Pitt says she is frightened of going back into Southampton General Hospital due to the appalling levels of uncleanliness she claims she witnessed.

During her three-week stay at the General, Angela said she was horrified to find sinks filled with vomit and blood and toilet floors covered in urine and faeces.

Now she is appealing to hospital and cleaning bosses to increase the number of cleaning hours at the hospital, not slash them as is being proposed.

The 60-year-old was left shocked when she heard proposals to axe up to 17,000 cleaning hours a year and fears that standards of cleaning will get worse.

As previously reported, cleaners working at the hospital were told by their employers, Medirest, that they are considering plans to cut cleaning hours after discussions with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) – sparking fears for the future cleanliness.

Both hospital and cleaning bosses have insisted that they are committed to maintaining the highest cleaning standards and that clinical areas would not be affected by any potential cuts – despite union claims that their members working on clinical wards have been warned their hours could be slashed.

Angela said that during her stay on ward G7 (see editor's note) the toilets were filthy, with urine and faeces on the floor. She says she was forced to walk to another ward to find a clean sink to wash in as the ones on hers had vomit and blood in them.

She also claims that her locker and table were never cleaned and that she had to buy cleaning wipes to do it herself.

She also said she witnessed the ward on two occasions being condemned for its uncleanliness, resulting in two cleaning advisors and a cleaner drafted in to take action.

Angela, who had been suffering from severe stomach pains, said: “Years ago cleaning standards in hospitals were so much better than they are today. I am now frightened of going back into that hospital because it is so filthy and I am worried about what I could catch.

“If I could sit down with cleaning and hospital bosses I would tell them that hours should not be slashed, they should be increased, because if it is this disgusting now, it is only going to get worse.

“The good work of the doctors and nurses is at risk of being undone by the lax cleaning standards and that is not right. Something needs to be done.”

Above average score of 96%

JUDY Gillow, director of nursing at UHS, said that they would be happyto discuss the issues raised by Ms Pitt, and urged her to contact the patient support services team.

She added: “In the most recent independent assessment of our hospital wards, all four of the trust’s sites – including Southampton General – scored above the national average of 96 per cent for standards of cleanliness.

“We are absolutely committed to maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness in our hospitals and can reassure members of the public that will always remain the case.”

A spokesman from Medirest said that it was committed to maintaining “high levels” of safety and quality at the hospital.

“We also understand that like all NHS trusts, they are required to increase efficiencies and this
consultation forms part of our ongoing commitment to help them achieve this,” he added.

“We will continue to work closely with all of our colleagues, the Trust and the unions and at the same time maintain our excellent levels of service.”

Have you been affected?

Have you recently had a stay in hospital or had reason to visit a sick relative or friend? We want to hear your experiences about cleanliness on the wards of Southampton General Hospital.

Contact our health reporter Melanine Adams on 023 8042 4500 or email melanie.adams@dailyecho.co.uk.

Alternatively write to Melanie at The Daily Echo, Newspaper House, Test Lane, Redbridge,  Southampton SO16 9JX.

Editor's note - Since this article was printed the Daily Echo has been told by UHS that Ms Pitt was in fact treated on ward E7 and not G7. They added that E7 did not record any issues with cleanliness or receive any complaints from patients, visitors or staff during Ms Pitt's admission.