Dunedin Hospital management has backed its cleaning procedures and staff, as the number of people infected by norovirus while in the hospital continues to climb.
Otago District Health Board operations manager Megan Boivin said a memorandum was sent to hospital staff yesterday explaining extra measures being taken by cleaning staff to try to contain the spread of the norovirus, which has infected nearly 160 people inside the hospital in the past three weeks.
The cleaning staff were "doing a fantastic job" and were exceptionally proficient at what they did, she said.
Cleaners closely followed the correct containment procedures and it was a testament that they, as well as the emergency department, were the only departments not to have any staff fall ill during the present outbreak.
Her comments follow rumours inside the hospital that lax cleaning standards may have contributed to the spread of the virus, which can survive on surfaces for up to two weeks.
Sources within the hospital said staff had concerns for some time about the standard of surface and crockery cleaning in Dunedin Hospital.
"Everybody knows it's not cleaned properly," one staff member said.
Patients often told staff that surfaces had not been cleaned properly, or were just wiped over with a rag.
"They touch rails and door knobs and then they handle food."
New Zealand Nurses Organisation Otago representative Lorraine Lobb said there were rumours about how the outbreak was being spread and it was easy to point the finger when something like this was happening.
People had spoken to the union about the cleanliness of the hospital, but it had never been a significant enough concern for the union to lay a formal complaint, she said.
The Food Workers and Services Union South Island representative, Campbell Duigan, acknowledged staff concerns and said Dunedin Hospital cleaners had commented to him on a regular basis they did not have enough time to do all the work.
"I wonder if we got these sorts of outbreaks 20 years ago when cleaning was all done in-house and closely managed.
"We think our guys do a good job in the circumstances."
Since 9am yesterday another 11 patients and 13 staff at Dunedin Hospital developed the symptoms of norovirus.
The new cases brought the total infected at Dunedin and Wakari Hospitals to 66 patients and 92 staff since the first reported case on August 1.
Twenty-six patients remained in isolation at the hospital last night and four wards were closed.
About 2300 procedures have been postponed since Monday.
Some clinics, which are reasonably isolated, were reopened yesterday but Mrs Boivin said the hospital was being careful not to help the spread of the virus.
Cleaning regimes had been altered and entrances were being manned by security staff so people could not accidentally walk into infected parts of the hospital.
Nursing staff have been asked to take specific care in laundering their uniforms.
Mrs Boivin said some planned outpatient clinics and procedures would proceed today where they did not require access to other parts of the hospital, or where the clinical staff had decided the appointment had some urgency.
