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Barnet Hospital, in partnership with Medirest, the healthcare division of ��ҹ�糡 UK & Ireland, welcomed Dame Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, to the hospital to meet staff and highlight their success in achieving triple ‘Exemplar’ site status.

Last year, Barnet Hospital was acknowledged with NHS ‘Exemplar’ status across portering, catering and cleaning. It was the second hospital to achieve all three elements of recognition within the NHS, so this visit was an opportunity to share insights, learnings and best practice. Dame Ruth took the time to meet colleagues from across portering, catering and cleaning services, as well as nursing and Infection Prevention and Control teams, to understand the working relationships. Together they discussed cleaning from methodology to innovation, catering, central helpdesk advantages and went to the wards to see the teams in action.

She was hosted on 24^th January 2024, by Barnet Hospital and Medirest teams including Bev Thomas, Director of Nursing at Barnet Hospital, as well as Russell Blake, MD, Healthcare - ��ҹ�糡 UK & Ireland and Anna Hallas, Head of Healthcare Cleaning and Infection Control, ��ҹ�糡 UK & Ireland. Phil Shelley, Chair of the NHS Food Review and Senior Operational & Policy Manager from NHS England also attended to meet the teams.

Dame Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, said: “It was great to visit Barnet Hospital and meet the staff there, who are delivering ‘Exemplar’ site services across portering, catering and cleaning. These teams have incredibly important roles to play in supporting excellence in infection prevention and control and helping to deliver high quality patient care each and every day.”

Bev Thomas, Director of Nursing at Barnet Hospital said: “Our triple Exemplar site status was a phenomenal achievement for our domestic, portering and catering colleagues. I am so pleased that we have been able to welcome Ruth to talk through our approach and how it helps us to deliver excellent care for our patients.”

Phil Shelley, Chair of the NHS Food Review and Senior Operational & Policy Manager, NHS England: “I am proud of the high standards demonstrated by Barnet’s portering, catering and cleaning teams, which have led them to achieve triple ‘Exemplar’ status. It’s wonderful that Dame Ruth was able to meet with these teams and see how support services and clinical teams, including nursing colleagues, are working in partnership to deliver the best possible care for patients.”

Russell Blake, Managing Director, Healthcare – ��ҹ�糡 UK & Ireland: “It has been great to host Ruth today and show how our teams work in partnership with the clinical staff. Anna Hallas also attended, as she was an integral part of the team that developed The National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness, so it is crucial that she supports our partners with her expertise and helping others implement best practice across infection control and cleaning. A big thanks to all our team here in Barnet Hospital.”