DEEP CLEAN POLICY SHOULD BE LED BY EVIDENCE OF WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS - LAMB

9.10.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 15th Jan 2008

Responding to the warning this morning from the Cleaning and Support Services Association about the Government's 'deep clean' programme for hospitals, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said: "Gordon Brown seems more concerned about securing headlines than seriously cutting infection rates.

"Policy should be led by evidence of what actually works, but this just smacks of gimmickry, sounding tough without guaranteeing results.

"Deep cleaning alone won't provide the change of culture which many hospitals need, instilling a constant, almost obsessive focus on cleanliness."

Notes

CSSA Director General Andrew Large told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Our concern is that unless there is sustained funding of day-to-day hospital cleaning, then these deep cleanings will prove to be a £50 million flash in the pan."