Fragmented management, hospital contract cleaning and infection control

Hospital infection control has become a key issue in the UK health service. Much of the discussion has revolved around whether there is a connection between the quality of environmental cleanliness within hospitals and the incidence of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs). It has also raised questions about the impact of contract cleaning and of competitive tendering more generally. This article makes the case for a connection between contract cleaning, the standard of cleanliness and the incidence of HCAIs by focusing on the effect of the fragmentation of the ward team.