Cleaning notes before a hospital discharge

Before someone can come home, the person arranging it needs a clear record of what was done. A line saying the property was cleaned is not enough after a fall, an infection, or a room that was left for some time.

We do this work for families, landlords, housing associations and, where we are asked, the police. What matters for a discharge is the paperwork, and a clear line between a disinfection clean and a clearance.

What the note should say

• Which rooms were affected, and which were only tidied.

• What was removed, and what was left because it was not contaminated.

• That surfaces were disinfected, not only wiped.

• That contaminated waste left with a licensed clinical waste carrier.

• That a treatment report or certificate of disinfection can be sent.

The certificate is the same one we issue to homes, care homes, laboratories and hospitals. A housing officer can put that on the file.

A disinfection clean is not a clearance

A clinical disinfection clean treats the affected rooms. Papers, medicines and personal items stay unless they are contaminated. A clearance is a different instruction. Contents and waste are removed so a property can be inspected, reinstated or sold.

A referral should say which one is needed. If both are needed, they should be named separately. We will not clear a home someone still lives in when only a clean has been asked for.

Before we attend

• The rooms being treated need to be empty while the work is done.

• Electrics can stay on for the dry-fog process.

• A room does not need to be gas-sealed, and the fire alarm does not need to be switched off.

• Access, a key, and who is funding the work should be agreed before the day.

Summary

Before someone can come home, ask for the rooms, the removals, the waste notes and the certificate. Say whether you need a disinfection clean or a clearance. We will not treat them as the same job.

Hospital Discharges Across Shropshire

Many patients return home from the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford or the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital to properties that need attention first. The home may have been empty for weeks, there may be damp or mould, food may have been left out, or there may be contamination from the illness that led to the admission. Families, discharge teams, social workers and housing officers are often the ones who arrange the work, and the team covers Telford, Shrewsbury and villages and market towns across the county.

When a Home Is Not Ready

1. Mould has developed while the home was empty. See mould removal.

2. There is bodily-fluid contamination from before the admission.

3. The home has been hoarded and needs clearing before equipment such as a hospital bed can be delivered.

4. The patient is vulnerable to infection and the home needs disinfecting.

The home disinfection services page and the social services cleaning page explain how these jobs are handled.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much notice do you need before a discharge?

As much as possible, but the team will try to fit around the discharge date. Calling as soon as a date is known helps.

Can you work with the hospital discharge team?

Yes. The team can liaise with discharge teams, social workers and families.

What if the home needs clearing first?

Clearance and disinfection can be done in one job, so equipment such as a bed or hoist can be delivered.

Will I receive a record?

Yes. A note of the rooms treated, waste removed and whether the job was a disinfection or a clearance is provided.

Do you cover the whole county?

Yes, including Telford, Shrewsbury and market towns across Shropshire.

Why the Record Matters

A short written record makes a real difference at discharge. It tells the family, the discharge team and any carers which rooms were disinfected, what waste was removed and whether the work was a disinfection clean or a full clearance. That avoids confusion, helps social workers confirm the home is ready, and provides a reference if anything needs following up later. The team has provided records like this for many years.

Families can also book a treatment ahead of a planned discharge, so the work is done before the date is confirmed and the home is ready whenever the patient is cleared to leave.

Specialist-Only

Shropshire Expert Cleaners LTD does not provide regular, standard, one-off or standard end-of-tenancy cleaning. It is a specialist company using NHS-validated technology, working since around 2009.

Community

Since 2022 the company has given just over £30,000 of donations in items and services. During Covid, it decontaminated frontline NHS workers' homes free of charge while they were at work.

Call free on 0800 193 3699, mobile 07462 479 576, or email specialists@shropshirecleaners.expert.

If you are arranging a return home

Call and tell us who is referring, which rooms are affected, and whether a clearance is needed as well. We will confirm what the report will cover.

Call 0800 193 3699 or 07462 479 576. Email specialists@shropshirecleaners.expert.