[Mrs Nicholls]

We have just been asked to quote for a doctors surgery cleaning, monday - friday,

just wondered if anyone had any insight, is it the same as office cleaning basically? anything to look out for?

thanks
Lisa

[Prestige1]

Germs

[wilclean]

hi

   I clean a dentists surgery and treat it like a normal office but there's more tops to disinfect than offices.


kind regards Paul

[Mrs Nicholls]

haha ! didnt think about them germs

is it the same cleaning materials we would use o domestic or offices then? for example we use flash antibac 4 in 1 in our offices for washroom surfaces as it can be used on all mirrors etc and kills germies, could i use this?

[dg-cleaning]

I would say u will deffo need antibac in that type of enviroment. Use one like bugs away or dettol who state that they can remove all bugs inc mrsa, e coli and even the flu virus! He he to quota an advert!

[Bertie Boo]

I'm kind of thinko this is getting a tad specialist...i've been led to belive that general purpose detergent (i.e. washing up liquid) was supposed to be the main product used, with stronger products (like antibacs and eventually even bleach) for outbreaks?

I think more advice is needed, i've done the infection control courses 1&2 but nothing other than what i've said is coming to mind...

Bertie

[dg-cleaning]

You got to think of all the porrly people going in there every day!
I would imagine that a good antibac would be sufficent.
A sk what they used previously?

[Bertie Boo]

DG

yeah true, but there is a strong belief that the germs and what-not are liable to become immune to cleaning products very quickly which is why in hospitals they only ever really use general detergent for everyday cleaning.

This 'controls' or 'manages' the problem, so if there is a severe outbreak then the cleaning products can be upgraded for one that is stronger, and then returned back to the general detergent afterwards.

Some places (not just hospitals etc) go in cycles of cleaning products, changing the brand or type every few weeks in the belief that this may decrease the chances of immunities being formed.

Bertie

[Mrs Nicholls]

thanks for all the replies

i think i will approach it as an office with anti bac cleaning, i have seen a cleaner at my own dr's and she just wonders around with a hoover and tin of polish! she may do other things but thats all i have seen so far!

cant be oo different, the only thing is we are awaiting crb checks, we have no infection control training as such, would this be a problem do you think?

[Bertie Boo]

Hi Lisa

Yes, i think it WOULD be a problem if you havent done the infection control or at least have the basic understaning of it..i did it only because the college where i did my BICS stage one and my NVQ 1+2 offered it to me as they said it was funded at the time i did it and as such i may as well do it as it only cost me my time.

My friend Julie, who was a hospital cleaner, has done the infection control course, i dont know whether this is standard practice for hospital cleaners or not...Anyway, i am not trying to be negative (i only want to help) but i think you really need to obtain specialist advice on this one...i had occasion to telephone Julie today and i mentioned this posting, she said that -from her own training and experience- i am right to say that you would be encouraged to only clean with general purpose detergent (wash up liquid by another name) and she thought that areas such as beds and seating may require the use of something stronger, but to be fair this is just speculation on our part, i wouldnt want to be taking on this job of yours myself unless i was 110% sure...

The other issue is the use of Vacuum cleaners in these places...these are now considered to be a real breeding ground for god-knows-what and liable to distribute all manner of germs etc into the air. For this reason (and the fact that hospitals should have little carpet these days) a lot of hozzies have removed vacuum cleaners from the broom cupboards. The same may apply to the surgery -i dont know- but if you do use a vacuum you will need to keep it in tip-top order.

I'd hoped you would have had more replies so far...?

Cheers

Bertie

[Mrs Nicholls]

mind you saying that, if a member of staff who we are thinking of putting into the job has various caertificate for infection control etc then we wil be fine!

[Bertie Boo]

Well, they will at least be trained in such, but better that you know it too.

You need to know what to do and how to deal with sharps, bodily-fluids, etc, its all really easy stuff but i think you would do well to do the courses.

In a hospital the cleaning cloths will be disposed of or laundered on-site, as will the mop-heads, you need to decide how often and how you are going to clean the mop heads and what-not.

It is  also quite likely that there will be poorly people in the surgery who may be affected by any products you are using.

What area are you in? I'll see if i can find a college near you who runs the course. I have also got to speak to my college at some point, would you like me to ask their advice?

Cheers

Stephen

[Mrs Nicholls]

do we treat dr's offices as hospitals? sorry im getting confused as to why you refer to them as hospitals. 

sorry if i am being naive, not had experience in this bit before 

[Bertie Boo]

Hi Lisa

I'm saying that i would think that they needed to be cleaned in a similar way (not neccesarily an identical way) as a hospital, and that the basic principles should be the same. I'm also saying they (hospitals) have facilities to launder / dispose of cleaning material on-site, you need to decide what you are going to do (heaven forbid your staff would put a dirty mop head in a bag and take it home on the bus etc. to wash it at home).

I am also thinking beyond the bigger picture, like what would happen if someone came to you and asked you to explain what training and information you gave to the staff prior to them doing the cleaning.

If you can get on the infection control course (i did mine in just a few hours, from home) you will find this of so much use. In my job as a domestic it did not offer me much that i can take note of on a daily basis, but i am glad i did it in case i was asked to clean anywhere like a surgery etc.

I will ask the question when i call my college (if you want me to).

Cheers

Bertie

[Mrs Nicholls]

thanks bertie, i see what your saying, best to be covered than not, cant be too carefull.

i'll do a search for a course, i see you mention they can be done from home, this would be good.

thanks

[newbroom]

I used to clean a dentist surgery in Bishop Stortford, i had to have 3 heptatis b injections before they would let me start the contract. Also take into account the fact they will be quite specific in what waste you deal with. I believe they put medical waste in yellow bags you shouldn't under any circumstances be dealing with that ( needles etc )

Because of the nature of the clients business i would make sure that any staff you had at the doctors was crb checked to the advanced stage,

[Mrs Nicholls]

well, been to visit the premises now, its quite a large surgery, they do minor operations there!

anyway, they use certain practices for everyone to follow, with these and cleaning standards/practices pinned on the wall in each room to ensure the correct audit standards are being met.

all supplies are to be provided due to different chemicals etc being used in different areas.

basically all we would need to do is follow these rules fully and turn up for the job.

They currently have 2 girls working 1.5hrs per day so 15 hours per week, would you quote this as the usual office clean? or go a bit extra due to risk factor? they are doing a costing exercise with this but are really looking to go with a contract cleaning company such as ourselves due to the benefits of them not having to deal with the cleaning directly - staff cover etc.

[Bertie Boo]

Lisa

if you have had no experience in this field, nor any official training, i would run a mile, really i would.

You wouldnt get me doing it, i can make enough doing houses. Is this job going to be worth more to you in some way than another office job?

Cheers

Bertie 

[Mrs Nicholls]

hi bertie,

i have a health and social care back ground so am familiar with some aspects, including cleaning.

Just thought it would be a new challenge, the manager there is very friendly, and has the resources to train us / our staff if required, as he had to with the previous 'directly employed' ladies. We have stated that if he required any specific certificates / training etc we could go ahead and do exatly that, and he said not needed, as it is general common sense and all fully laid out in their own training package. It is a new surgery, only 2 years old and well looked after.

Only difference to the offices is that the cleaning chemicals/materials are different in some areas, the rest is exactly the same.

To be honest i get bored very easily, and need the thrill of a new type of job to keep me going, houses and offices drive me to sheer boredom after a few months, thats why i got staff in ( i don enjoy iot when not having to do it everyday mind!)    i prefer to run the business side of things, and my biz partner acts as supervisor to the cleaning ladies, and helps them out with the offices and domestic as needs arise.

sorry long winded post, just not sure why you would shun a new opportunity, i might be going in blind, but i'll learn a thing or two on the way.

[Bertie Boo]

Hey Lisa, thats cool, i'm not shunning it i'm just saying that is it going to be worth it?

But you've come back with very valid reasons as to why it might be, so at least i can understand why you want to do it now...

I'll get back to you as to which college is near you (unless you find out first  )

Cheers

Bertie