County Hospitals Hygiene Standards 'Appalling'

10.37.30pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 14th Aug 2007

Liz Leffman condemns 'appalling' hygiene standards

Liz Leffman, Prospective Liberal Democrat MP for Meon Valley, has condemned the "appalling" standards of basic food hygiene and cleanliness in three Hampshire hospitals.

Following Freedom of Information requests made by the Liberal Democrats to a quarter of all English local authorities, Royal Hampshire County Hospital (Winchester), Petersfield Hospital and Alton Community Hospital have been exposed for not meeting required food hygiene standards.

While RHC and Petersfield were condemned for 'poor food storage' and 'cleanliness of workplace', both RHC and Alton were blasted for 'poor personal hygiene' amongst other lapses.

Liz said: "People throughout Meon Valley will be concerned by the appalling failings in nearby hospitals.

"People who are sick are already vulnerable to infection, without the added problem of poor food hygiene.

"Standards in hospital kitchens and canteens are of utmost importance when it comes to hygiene and, coming hot on the heels of a report stating superbugs are on the rise in the county's hospitals, people are losing faith in our health services."

The Liberal Democrats are calling for standards to be made public via clear and accessible ratings for each institution.