A HEALTH board has apologised after one of its hospitals was rapped for cleaning standards.

Inspectors found "significant issues" in all the wards and departments at Hairmyres Hospital in Lanarkshire.

However the problems were most severe in ward 19, where faecal contamination was discovered on a toilet wall and on the nurse call bell, next to a toilet.

Contaminated blood was also found on the underside of a patient trolley as well as dust and grime on patient equipment.

The report by Healthcare Improvement Scotland resulted in seven requirements and three recommendations.

The inspection was a follow-up after "signficant concerns" were raised to senior managers within NHS Lanarkshire about the standard of cleanliness of patients equipment and the environment.

An improvement action plan was drafted by the board and inspectors returned on September 22.

Inspectors returned last month and found that some progress had been made.

Ian Ross, Chief Executive, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “We are sorry that we fell below our own high standards of cleanliness of patient equipment and the environment at Hairmyres Hospital.”

“We have acted swiftly to put in place a comprehensive action plan to address these issues. This includes making our systems more robust so there is assurance that patient equipment is clean and ready to use.

“We are also putting in place a system of firm supervision to monitor cleaning tasks giving us full confidence that our wards and departments are meeting a high standard of environmental cleanliness.

“I want to reassure patients and visitors that we have already made substantial improvements at Hairmyres Hospital following the HEI visits. Further progress against our action plan will be closely monitored by the NHS Lanarkshire Board which is committed to ensuring all our hospitals provide a safe and clean environment.”