Summarised from an article by Lois Rogers, entitled 'Hospital cleaners to take over care for terminally ill', in The Sunday Times. Incidentally, no one should underestimate the importance of the hospital cleaner: there was a research study which found that, when children in hospital were asked to rate the staff in order of importance to them, the surgeons came bottom and the cleaners came top.
Hospital cleaners at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield are taking over caring for terminally ill patients as part of a 'multi-skilling' exercise. They will combine mopping toilets with bathing patients and other duties currently performed by nursing support staff.
The cleaners, who are to be re-designated 'generic workers', are to undergo a training course to equip them for the new healthcare responsibilities; it will last a month. They will then be allowed to perform blood and temperature checks, and to bathe and feed patients. They will be expected to continue cleaning ward areas, corridors and toilets and distributing drinks and meals.
Initially five nursing support workers at the hospital will be replaced by domestic staff on a ward caring for 33 terminally ill adult patients.
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