Commercial Cleaning In Your GP Surgery: A Winter Wellness Checklist

As the chilly winter months approach, the risk of infectious diseases in GP surgeries becomes more pronounced.

In this informative content piece, we explore the critical measures that are necessary to safeguard your GP surgery against the spread of infectious diseases during the winter season.

The blog offers insights into effective cleaning strategies, specialised disinfection techniques, best practices and tips for cleaning GP surgeries, keeping them germ-free and resilient against infectious diseases this Winter and beyond.

About this article

In this blog, we provide a “GP Surgery Cleaning Checklist” which is intended to help GP practice managers keep patients safe when visiting the surgery during the winter months by using effective cleaning to minimise the spread of infections from germs and viruses.

If you are a GP or Dental Surgery Practice Manager, or if you work in a GP surgery in some other capacity, you can use this list to check that your commercial cleaning provider is covering all the bases.

Prioritising the key areas for cleaning in a GP surgery

There are three main areas of a GP or dental surgery which need particular attention.

• Waiting Rooms: These should be cleaned and disinfected regularly, focusing on high-touch surfaces like doors and doorknobs, seats, counter tops and any chairs and tables.
• Examination Rooms: It goes without saying that these must be disinfected after each patient visit. Areas such requiring attention are surfaces like examination tables, chairs and any non-disposable medical equipment.
• Toilets and Bathrooms: Again, an obvious priority for regular cleaning are publicly accessible toilets/WCs, where all surfaces, toilets and toilet seats, sinks and door handles should be disinfected.

Specific hygiene targets for cleaners of a GP surgery

Let’s break this down now into which specific areas of your GP surgery should be given attention.

• High-Touch Surfaces

These should be cleaned and disinfected frequently, as they are most likely to be contaminated.

This includes door handles, light switches, handrails, chairs, desks, computer keyboards and mice, telephones and any medical equipment.

• Waiting Areas Furniture and Fittings

The waiting area is often the first point of contact for patients and can be a significant source of germ transmission.

All surfaces, including chairs, tables, children’s toys (if provided), should be regularly cleaned and disinfected. GP Surgery Managers should also question whether it is appropriate to provide reading materials such as magazines, and if so the practical requirements for doing so hygienically.

• Patient Examination/Consultation Rooms

As described above, the consulting rooms where doctors see individual patients should be thoroughly cleaned every day. While cleaning operatives cannot be responsible for cleaning or disinfecting consulting rooms between patient appointments, there is still a regime to follow in daily cleaning.

This routine should include examination beds and chairs where patients may sit, along with any permanent equipment used. The floor, door and walls should also be cleaned regularly.

• Bathrooms/toilets

Most GP surgeries provide patient toilets, and these need to be cleaned and disinfected at least daily by professional cleaners.

Special attention should be paid to high-touch areas like taps, toilet flush handles, soap dispensers, toilet roll dispensers and hand dryers as well as all doors and door handles.

• Floors

Floors in all areas of the GP surgery should be cleaned regularly, using appropriate cleaning agents and methods for the type of flooring.

Cleaning fluids and equipment should be stored securely due to their potentially hazardous nature.

• Administrative Areas

Although these areas are out of bounds to patients, they are used all day for key staff and so should provide a healthy and safe environment. As such should be included in the cleaning regime.

This should include cleaning of desk tops, filing cabinets, computers, keyboards and mice, telephones, printers and all other equipment.

The same applies to other staff areas such as kitchens, staff rooms if provided and any other areas used by staff.

• Waste Disposal

All waste should be disposed of appropriately, with clinical waste being segregated and handled according to guidelines to prevent contamination.

• Ventilation Systems

Clean air is an often-forgotten consideration for cleaning in a GP surgery. While it is not – strictly speaking – a contract cleaner’s responsibility to ensure good air quality, the proper maintenance and cleaning of ventilation systems is important to ensure good air quality.

This can help reduce the risk of airborne transmission of infections.

• External Areas

The exterior areas of the GP surgery, including entrance lobbies and porches, are also important and should be kept clean and well-maintained.

This will prevent slips, trips and falls, as well as creating a good first impression.

• Infection Control Measures

Adherence to infection control protocols, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand hygiene, is crucial in all cleaning activities.

Cleaners should make sure they follow these rules as part of their routine.

Conclusion

Every GP surgery should have a clear cleaning protocol in place, detailing the frequency and methods of cleaning for different areas and items, and cleaning staff should be trained in these protocols.

Regular audits and checks should be conducted by management to ensure compliance and identify any areas for improvement.

By following this checklist and maintaining a rigorous approach to hygiene and cleanliness, you can ensure that your doctor’s surgery remains a safe and hygienic environment for both patients and staff.

Need a bit of extra help with your surgery cleaning? Speak to the GP Surgery cleaning specialists at Wixted Cleaning. We’ll be delighted to provide you with a free quote!