CQC Compliance and Infection Control: Is Your Sluice Room Up to Standard?

Many healthcare facilities assume they are compliant because they have a designated sluice room, but the CQC criteria goes much further than this. To achieve a ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ rating from the CQC, you must also demonstrate the following: 

Best workflow practice

In a complaint sluice room, best practices must be implemented to prevent cross-contamination. This can be achieved through a workflow, ensuring a distinction between clean and dirty areas. For example, reusable utensils should be moved from the point of use to the washer disinfector without passing through a clean area. It is also important to ensure adequate handwashing facilities are in place and are being used before leaving the room, using the right technique, and there is appropriate access to and from the room. Most importantly, it’s only used for its designated purpose. We have created a process based on the best practices below:

Maintenance of equipment

Ensuring your sluice room equipment is regularly serviced, i.e. bedpan washer disinfector. Confirming it’s fully operational and reaches relevant temperatures to kill bacteria, and it’s not prohibited by limescale, which could affect its efficiency. 

All equipment should also be visibly clean and free from odours that are offensive or unpleasant, and should only be used for its intended usage. 

Infection Prevention and Control

The CQC also assess how infection prevention protocols are integrated into daily processes. This includes ensuring staff adhere to rigorous hand washing and correct PPE usage. Ensuring the room is equipped with essential equipment, i.e. waste bin, sinks and liquid soap, drying rack and bedpan washer, and features easily cleanable surfaces. Making sure standards are maintained through comprehensive staff training, the sluice room is regularly checked and cleaned, and contains visual prompts on using equipment and preventing cross-contamination.

Waste management 

Effective management of human waste is critical in mitigating the risk of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HCAIs). Therefore, having the best equipment in place, such as a bedpan washer disinfector, is necessary to allow facilities to move away from manual washing, which carries a higher risk of splashback.

CQC Framework 

When the CQC inspect the management of infection prevention and control, we assess against:

• Regulation 12 (Safe care and treatment) 
• Regulation 15 (Premises and equipment) 

All providers of health care and adult social care should also meet or exceed the Health and Social Care Act 2008 code of practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance. 

Which key areas include:

• preventing and controlling infection, ensuring people receive safe and effective care
• all staff must apply this as part of everyday practice
• high standards of infection prevention and cleanliness need good management and processes.

Stanbridge are here to help you achieve compliance. We can offer a free sluice room survey, CAD drawings and layout planning, sluice room equipment, should you have an upcoming inspection or be looking to build a new one.

Contact us today to find out more on 01689 806 500 or via sales@stanbridge.co.uk.