Cleaning & Hygiene Should Be National Priority in 2024
The head of the British Cleaning Council (BCC) has criticised the government for ignoring a campaign that could save thousands of lives and alleviate strain on the NHS during winter. The government's attitude is described as dismissive, arrogant, and oblivious to the campaign's significance. The campaign emphasises the importance of prioritising cleaning and hygiene at a national level.
The British Cleaning Council (BCC), representing the £59 billion cleaning, hygiene, and waste sector, reached out to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in early October, endorsing a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Cleaning and Hygiene Industry. Titled "Embedding Effective Hygiene for a Resilient UK," the report emphasises the need for robust hygiene practices in the UK.
BCC chair Delia Cannings, in her letter, urged the government to fully implement the report's 11 recommendations, aiming to establish cleaning and hygiene as a top national priority.
Implementing these measures would significantly enhance the UK's resilience against prevalent infections like the flu and Covid-19 variants and bolster preparedness for future public health crises, including potential pandemics.
According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), flu infections contribute to thousands of deaths each year in the UK. Adopting these recommendations would decrease the incidence of illnesses, leading to fewer hospital admissions. This, in turn, would alleviate the common winter challenges UK hospitals face, such as bed shortages and staff pressures, and ultimately help reduce fatalities.
The BCC recently received a response from Health Minister Maria Caulfield to its initial letter addressed to the Prime Minister. In her reply, Caulfield highlighted the ongoing efforts by the Department of Health and Social Care, the UK Health Security Agency, and the NHS to strategise and prepare for various pandemic and infectious disease scenarios. She mentioned that the UK possesses adaptable and well-established pandemic response capabilities and noted that the government is reassessing non-pharmaceutical interventions and guidelines. The letter concluded with, "I hope this reply is helpful."
Reacting to this, BCC Chair Delia Cannings expressed her profound disappointment and frustration. She criticised the response as dismissive and complacent, stating it demonstrates the government's failure to grasp the significance of this critical national issue and to engage effectively with it.
“We are calling for the UK to put cleaning and hygiene at the heart of the national agenda and to recognise the vital, frontline role the sector’s skilled and professional cleaning staff have in keeping people healthy, well and safe.”
“The nation has to learn the lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic. These steps could save thousands of lives in the future.”
“Instead of giving this important campaign the serious thought it deserves and engaging with us, the Government has arrogantly dismissed what we have to say.”
“It is completely unacceptable for the Government to treat our industry, one of the biggest in the UK, this way.”
The BCC and 21 organisations from across the industry have been campaigning for the Government to adopt the APPG report since last year.
Industry members are being asked to email their MPs asking them to back the report. Anyone from the sector can download a supporting letter from the BCC’s website to adapt and send to their MP.
Industry members can visit https://britishcleaningcouncil.org/2023/02/06/download-letter-here/.
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