More hospital robots to target bugs

More robots will soon be powering around the wards of a Black Country hospital in a bid to tackle potentially deadly superbugs, say health officials.

Wheeled robots at Sandwell Hospital were originally used as part of a pilot scheme but bosses have now decided to buy more because they have proved such a success. Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, which also runs City Hospital on the Smethwick/Birmingham border and Rowley Regis Hospital, has been using Sterinis robots to eliminate infection on wards since last year.

They spray a potent hydrogen peroxide mist across the rooms, delivering a more intensive level of cleaning.

Trust spokeswoman Helen Eden said: "The six robots currently in use have proved very effective in assisting the deep clean of wards, so the trust has purchased a further three, which are expected to be delivered within the next few weeks.

"The new robots will strengthen the trust's capacity to decontaminate large areas at the same time and are routinely used in the fight against infection across the trust."

She added: "The robots complement the deep clean process by spraying a fine mist of hydrogen peroxide into the atmosphere which settles on every surface, killing the bugs that cause infection."

The trust was one of the first to trial the Sterinis robot. It comes after it was announced the trust appears to be winning the battle against superbugs.

There were nine cases of C. diff infections, a gut infection which can kill, in December – less than the anticipated 26 in the month.