A pilot scheme introducing additional cleaning hours and the services of a dedicated handyman on three wards at Withybush General Hospital has been launched by Hywel Dda NHS Trust.
The scheme aims to test whether an increase in cleaning hours improves the patient environment and levels of cleanliness and hygiene.
The pilot, which is taking place on the surgical wards three and four, as well as the children's ward nine, is a partnership between all ward staff, domestic assistants and estate personnel.
Director of nursing and quality control Caroline Oakley said: "The Trust is committed to working towards meeting the national standards of cleanliness, and ensuring that standards of hygiene and infection prevention are seen as very important issues.
"As part of this, we draw on best practice and continually review and investigate new, innovative ways of working to ensure our hospitals are safe and comfortable for patients.
"This pilot involves collaborative working between several departments, crossing professional boundaries, and it will be interesting to see the results."
As part of the six-month scheme, the total cleaning hours across the three participating wards will be 210 hours - which is an increase of more than 25 per cent (58 hours) per week from the previous routine.
The dedicated handyman, appointed from the estates department, will manage the general maintenance and upkeep of the ward and department areas.
The pilot will also review the roles and working practices of staff to identify areas which would benefit from this investment and to plan how to incorporate new and additional duties into practice.
A redecoration programme at the hospital, which prioritises the surgical, orthopaedic and paediatric ward areas, will support the scheme, as well as the development of nurses with a special interest in infection prevention and control and hygiene.
The Trust is also seeking the support of patients and visitors.
Mrs. Oakley said: "As there will be an increase in activity at ward level, we would kindly ask visitors to strictly adhere to visiting times in order to allow this work to take place, although as always patient individual needs for visitors will be met."
Whilst visiting at the children's ward - Ward Nine - is unrestricted, visiting times for Wards Three and Four are between 3 and 4 pm and 7 and 8.30 pm.
The success of the pilot will be monitored by a series of audits and the opinion and views of patients and their relatives on the environment and cleanliness will also be sought.