Domestic Services at HRI recently played host to members of the Facilities Team from Christie Hospital Manchester. The team were here to learn how we successfully deliver our quality, efficient and effective cleaning operations onsite following an unconnected visit by one of their IPC nurses Gary Thirkell.

Gary (pictured far left) sang the praises of the cleaning team at HRI after a previous go-see at CHFT. He encouraged a visit of more Christie's staff looking at the systems and processes in place at CHFT.

The team were at HRI for most of the day visiting wards, observing the cleaning process, delivery, monitoring and training procedures. They were also interested in the success of our waste management system and Michael Harding the portering supervisor gave them a tour of the waste stream. They also paid a visit to the estates department where general manager Chris Davies provided an overview of the department including electrical and mechanical processes.

Gary said “I’ve been really impressed with what I’ve seen at HRI and with the domestic staff I’ve met. I’ve been really struck by the genuine affection the staff have for their jobs; the standard and the delivery ethics of the service as whole, is very laudable. They obviously put the patients at the centre of everything they do."

Our own senior facilities manager Ben Iyere (pictured second left) said "It is not often that people focus on the good things that the domestic staff are doing; but when they do, it is really inspiring for the whole team, and I'm really proud of them".

"The success of the service is down to team working, proactive monitoring and leading by example.

"Providing a safe, clean and personal environment isn’t just a set of words in the department; they’re the things we live by: you need to believe that the hospital you are cleaning is your house, your home. You need to want to make it perfect at all times. This means working with staff, sitting down and talking through problems and agreeing the best way to solve them”.