EVERY year, the hospital uses 650,000 disinfection tablets, 260,000 bin bags, 2,496 bottles of toilet cleaner and 37,440 jumbo-sized toilet rolls.

And it is all managed by the Housekeeping department which employs 103 cleaners, three team leaders, six supervisors and an administrator.

Helping to maintain consistency, cleaners work on the same ward as much as possible, where they are vital members of the ward team.

Housekeeping manager Amanda Urch said: “We clean all aspects of the hospital – 92,000 square metres of occupied floor space comprising of wards, outpatient areas, public areas, offices and theatres.

“We also have bank staff that provide cover for holidays and periods of extra activity – during winter pressures, refurbishments or ward moves.”

Training is conducted in two ways: via computer-based programmes covering subjects like infection prevention and control, and on the job training involving the shadowing of supervisors and senior cleaners.

“Training takes around two weeks but can be longer, it depends on how much experience of cleaning new staff have,” Amanda says.

For those on morning shifts, the day begins with cleaning all the ward toilet areas at about 7am, next is the removal of rubbish before work begins cleaning side rooms and bay areas.

Working through both a daily task list, and a weekly one, tasks include disinfecting table tops, lockers and floors while weekly tasks involve cleaning radiators and internal glazing. There is cleaning cover between 5.30am and midnight, and toilets are cleaned and checked throughout the day.

Michelle Sadler, general manager for Housekeeping and the Leisure Centre, said: “We undertake yearly appraisals where we review how our staff are performing, we set objectives and identify what further support our staff may need. If staff have a particular interest in something, we support them to achieve their goal.”

Further training opportunities involve NVQs in leadership and management, and chances to become a key worker, helping to train others.