GP surgeries are a source of help for every community member it serves. In order to keep people safe, it requires more than just prompt and accurate diagnosis. The surgery itself has a meticulous standard of cleaning to adhere to. But why is this?
In this blog, we will explore why GP surgeries need regular deep cleaning.
Sentrex Services stands as a leading provider of comprehensive cleaning and hygiene solutions, serving a vast region from the Northwest to the Southeast of England. With a dedicated team of over 600 professionals, we deliver bespoke cleaning services tailored to the unique needs of each commercial client.
What are NHS cleaning standards?
The “National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2025” are the guidelines that aim to provide a clear framework for maintaining a clean and safe healthcare environment across all NHS settings, including GP surgeries, hospitals etc.
Here are some of the principles within the cleaning standards:
- Cleaning isn’t limited to what is cleaned, and its frequency, but most importantly how it is cleaned. This ensures the cleaning is effective.
- The aim of these standards is to ensure cleanliness that reassures visitors and employees alike that the environment is safe.
- Results of cleaning assessments, good or bad, must be disclosed to ensure transparency.
- Although some cleaning responsibilities are reserved for certain staff members, general cleaning is seen as a collaborative effort. This means that clinical and non-clinical staff should ensure cleanliness in their areas etc.
Examples of requirements in the 2025 standards:
- A key component of the standards involves regular auditing to ensure compliance. This includes:
- Assessing the physical cleanliness of surfaces.
- Evaluating the cleaning process itself, including the methods used, materials, and staff adherence to procedures.
- Involving peer review with other local healthcare premises for observational learning (not formally scored).
- Healthcare sites are expected to display a “Commitment to Cleanliness” charter with a star rating that reflects the overall cleanliness of an area. This provides a visible measure for patients, staff, and the public. While the display of star ratings is optional for ambulance trusts (except in patient-facing areas), it is generally considered good practice.
- Clear roles and responsibilities for cleaning must be defined.
- These are also integral parts of maintaining a clean and safe environment, with specific guidance provided.
- Organisations now have the option to blend functional risk areas to optimize resource allocation.
How does this relate to GP surgeries?
In relation to the cleaning standards mentioned above, a GP practice must ensure that:
- GP practices must assign a ‘functional risk category’ to each area of the surgery based on patient contact and infection risk.
- Cleaning schedules must align with the specified frequencies for each risk category and the updated list of cleaning elements.
- Efficacy audits that assess the cleaning process are now emphasised.
- Displaying a “Commitment to cleanliness” charter with a star rating is expected to provide public assurance.
- A named cleaning lead with oversight responsibility is required.
What is the importance of deep cleaning services in a GP surgery?
Deep cleaning is one of the most important requirements in order to maintain a GP surgery. Reasons range from general health and safety, to preventing the spread of harmful diseases, and much more. Here’s why a GP surgery needs to be deep cleaned:
Responding to local outbreaks:
As seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, public places such as surgeries and shopping centres implemented social distancing, and the increased used of hand sanitizers and PPE.
Similarly, cleaning schedules had become more frequent, and in some cases using more potent disinfection.
This may be a requirement with any instance of local outbreaks or seasonal flus, if a GP surgery isn’t clean, other healthy individuals can become infected as a consequence of visiting.
Infection control:
A GP surgery sees a number of people enter and leave throughout its hours, people with different illnesses (some of which can be contagious) have the chance to infect others who visit.
A deep cleaning service will eliminate and reduce viruses, and other pathogens or bacteria can harm others. This greatly reduces the risk of ‘healthcare associated infections’.
Cross contamination:
Door, seats, and many surfaces can be touched, coughed on, have sweat dripped onto them multiple times a day. Bathrooms, waiting rooms, offices, windows all will accumulate bacteria.
Deep cleaning services will address high-touch surface areas, thereby helping to reduce the chance of someone becoming contaminated from touching a surface.
Keeping vulnerable people safe:
Many patients visiting a GP could have compromised immune systems, or other underlying health issues they aren’t aware of, leaving them more open for infection. A deep cleaning service will provide further protection for vulnerable people.
Regulatory compliance:
Healthcare facilities, including GP surgeries, are subject to strict hygiene and cleanliness standards set by regulatory bodies like the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and outlined in documents such as the “National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness.” Regular deep cleaning helps surgeries meet these standards and ensures compliance.
Meeting visitor and employee expectations:
A GP surgery needs its visitors and workers to have confidence in them, as the health of many people are in their hands. If a GP surgery is dusty, dirty, and disorganised, how can its visitors be confident that they will get the help they need, if the building itself isn’t clean?
Addressing hard-to-reach areas:
A deep clean tackles areas that are often missed, such as under furniture, behind equipment, corners, and grout, where dirt and pathogens can accumulate over time.
Improving air quality:
Deep cleaning can include cleaning or replacing air filters and vents, (depending on the service) which helps to remove dust, allergens, and airborne microorganisms, contributing to better air quality within the surgery.
How does Sentrex clean a GP surgery?
Due to our years of experience we know how to conduct a deep clean for a variety of buildings, businesses, and facilities alike, GP surgeries are no different.
We at Sentrex don’t have a ‘one size fits all’ approach, we offer our cleaning services on a case-by-case basis. This means that our cleaning services are specially catered to your needs, as well as the size of your facility, opening hours, and so much more.
Whether it’s specialised equipment, cleaning solutions, years of experience, we at Sentrex can cater to whatever you need. Contact us for a consultation today.
