Will the Minister confirm whether the procedure required for cleaning ambulances between patient journeys during the coronavirus pandemic is via a thorough deep clean or cleaning to pre-COVID-19 standards?
I can confirm that the current process for cleaning ambulances is as follows:
1. If an aerosol generating procedure (AGP) is undertaken in the ambulance it is taken out of service for a full decontamination including equipment. This is completed at WAST’s make ready depots in full level 3 PPE.
2. For all other occasions, the ambulance and exposed equipment is decontaminated with a treatment applied to touch surfaces including the floor. WAST have sought to limit unavailability by making facilities available at hospital sites for this. Level 2 PPE is worn for this process.
These approaches have been enhanced, compared to pre-Covid practices.