'Hospital staff struggling to maintain hygiene'

Staff at a Kent hospital are "struggling to maintain safe hygiene standards" after it was left without water for a week, a union says.

Unison says the situation has added to "already intense pressures" which have built up at Darent Valley Hospital, and is the latest in a long list of "systemic failures" by Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (DGT).

It says staff, particularly caterers, cleaners and housekeepers, are "battling to provide services" due to the lack of functioning facilities and this is "presenting risks to patients".

A DGT spokesperson says the hospital has a range of measures in place to support staff and patients.

"This includes isolating affected water supply, ongoing flushing and rigorous laboratory testing, portable handwashing facilities and provision of bottled water," they add.

DGT said it expected test results towards the end of the week, adding the water supply would only be restored once it was "absolutely confident it was safe".

"We want to ensure everyone feels supported and heard while we work through this safely and as quickly as possible," the trust said.

Unison says the hospital's water supply problem, is "pushing already overstretched staff closer to breaking point".

The union said it was pressing the trust for answers about how the hospital has handled the incident.

"These include establishing when senior leaders first became aware of the problem and whether it may have contributed to increased staff sickness," a Unison spokesperson said.

Unison's south east regional secretary, Jo Galloway, said: "Once again, it's low-paid NHS workers who are expected to go above and beyond to continue providing the best possible support to patients."

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