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Ward housekeeping
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Last modified date:18 June 2007
Ward housekeepers are valuable members of the ward team. They ensure the ward is clean and welcoming and patients' food is tasty and enjoyable. They attend to patients' non-clinical needs, providing more time for nursing staff to do the job for which they were trained.
Developing a ward housekeeping service
Overview, background, progress report and information resources to support the introduction of a ward housekeeping service are available below.
Overview
A ward housekeeping service supports the delivery of clinical care. Ward housekeepers ensure the ward is clean and welcoming and that food is tasty and enjoyable. They provide extra touches which can make a patient's stay in hospital less stressful. Ward housekeeping services are flexible and can be introduced in acute wards, mental health facilities, A&E departments, day surgeries and clinics.
What does a ward housekeeper do?
If you have been a patient you will know that there are times when there are little things you would like or want to know about which does not relate to your clinical care. The ward housekeeper is there to ensure that your needs are met. If you need help to fill in your menu card, the ward housekeeper can help. She will find fresh water for your flowers, and take care of your visitors.
Patient-focused standards of service
The ward housekeeping service is based on 11 service standards, developed in conjunction with patients.
- Download Download Overview of standards (PDF) (PDF, 36K)
- Download Download Linen - Clean linen supplies should be sufficient to meet patients' needs (PDF) (PDF, 30K)
- Download Download Cleanliness - Standards of cleanliness should be a high in all areas (PDF) (PDF, 29K)
- Download Download Catering - Patients should be provided with good quality food and drink to meet their individual needs (PDF) (PDF, 15K)
- Download Download Customer care - Patients/carers should receive a level of customer care relevant to their needs (PDF) (PDF, 18K)
- Download Download Control of infection - Patients should be cared for in an environment that minimises the risk of cross infection (PDF) (PDF, 16K)
- Download Download Maintenance of the environment - Patients should be cared for in a well-maintained environment which is safe, welcoming, comfortable and reassuring (PDF) (PDF, 17K)
- Download Download Equipment - All equipment should be in good working order (PDF) (PDF, 25K)
- Download Download Communication - Communication should be effective and used to ensure continuance of patient care (PDF) (PDF, 18K)
- Download Download Privacy and dignity - Patients' privacy and dignity should be respected at all times (PDF) (PDF, 25K)
- Download Download Health and safety - Patients must be assured that the care environments comply with current Health and Safety regulations (PDF) (PDF, 29K)
- Download Download Supplies - Sufficient supplies, fit for purpose, should be available at all times (PDF) (PDF, 25K)
Progress report
More than 53 percent of all NHS hospitals currently offer a ward housekeeping service. Amongst hospitals with more than 100 beds, this figure rises to 70 percent.
Resources
Setting up a ward housekeeping service
Responsibilities and frameworks for delivering services will vary between NHS trusts. The following principles have been proven to work in trusts who have set up a service:
- ward sisters manage the ward environment, supported by the ward housekeeper;
- ward housekeepers are ward-based and are seen as part of the ward team;
- ward housekeeping teams are multi-skilled and flexible in their work practices;
- patients are involved in setting up and evaluating the service;
- trust managers are committed to the service and a system of continuous quality improvement is in place.
Ward housekeepers should be flexible, innovative and sensitive to the needs of patients, visitors and staff. Housekeepers' tasks will vary from ward to ward. There is no single model for the mix of tasks, or for the delivery of housekeeping services
A ward housekeeper may be employed by a trust, external contractor or PFI contractor but is accountable on a day-to-day basis to the ward sister.
A support pack is available to assist NHS trusts in setting up a ward housekeeping service.
Case studies
The case studies below show how a range of NHS trusts have introduced and developed their ward housekeeping service.
Workshops
Video and CD-Rom reports of workshops and seminars introducing NHS trusts to the benefits of ward housekeepers can be requested from Lesley.cleaver@dh.gsi.gov.uk. Please indicate the report you require.
Reports available include:
- ward housekeepers - the way forward for London (November 2003);
- enhance, engage, enable: ward housekeepers in mental health (October 2003);
- a celebration of housekeepers' contribution to care (May 2003).
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