The National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2021 can be applied to all healthcare settings. The standards provide clear advice on what cleaning is required and how organisations can demonstrate their cleaning services meet these standards.
We have produced a bespoke ‘National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness Cleaning Audit Score Sheet – An example adapted for General Practice’.
This Cleaning Audit is available to download together with the following:
- National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness Efficacy Audit (Checklist)
- Commitment to cleanliness Charter – Example Charters adapted for General Practice (FR2, FR4 and FR6). Please note: The Charters have been converted to word documents to ensure they are fully editable, e.g. you will be able to alter the responsibility column (20/11/2024)
- Curtain changing or disposal frequency for General Practice: Quick reference guide
The ‘IPC CQC inspection preparation Pack for General Practice’ has been updated to reflect the National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2021. We have also produced ‘Cleaning schedule and record templates for General Practice’ which can be viewed on the ‘Related resources’ section below.
The national supporting documents, including the ‘Star rating’ Posters, can be accessed on this link: NHS England » National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2021: Supporting documents
The National Standards for Healthcare Cleanliness 2021 requires adoption of the ‘National colour coding scheme for cleaning materials and equipment’ to reduce the cross-contamination risk between types of areas. In this scheme, yellow cleaning materials and equipment should be used for isolation areas. In primary care and dental practices, yellow cleaning materials and equipment can be used for ‘Treatment and minor operation rooms’ as well as isolation areas, based on the rationale that there is a high risk of blood and body fluid contamination.
Head of Soft FM Strategy & Operations
NHS Estates and Facilities, Commercial Directorate, July 2024
Page updated: 20/11/2024
