Patients left in soiled sheets amid bedding shortage

University Hospitals of North Midlands said there had been delays in new linen deliveries into the UK

Patients at a hospital in Stoke-on-Trent were left with soiled sheets, blamed on a nationwide shortage of hospital bedding.

The issue came to light after a patient at Royal Stoke University Hospital was reportedly denied a change of linen, a health campaigner said.

A supply issue has affected a number of hospitals across the country.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), which runs Royal Stoke, said guidance and extra support had been provided to staff.

The shortage appears to have been due to a shortfall of about 10-15% of soiled top sheets being returned, sources have told the BBC.

This has been compounded by a delivery delay of new linen coming into the country.

There has also been an increase in requirements for linen due to the current increased pressure on trusts.

Health campaigner Ian Syme is calling for an apology for the patients affected.

The trust said the issue was now resolved

He said: “This should never happen. It’s an infection control risk. Putting patients back in soiled sheets is outrageous. There should be contingencies for shortages.”

Mr Syme said he had been told of a woman in her 40s, on ward 226, who was being washed.

“When the family asked why she was being put back to bed without changing the sheets, the nurse told her that there were no clean sheets,” he added.

A spokesperson for UHNM said: “It was a temporary shortage due to failure of new linen to be delivered into the UK, and the shortage of returned linen following washing.

"The problem is now resolved and the Trust is now receiving increased daily deliveries.”

The trust confirmed that all new patients were provided with clean bed linen.

It added: “Unlike many other hospitals we go over and above and change all of the sheets every day.

"On the rare occasion when there is a delay in us receiving our stock of clean bedsheets, we revert to what is traditional practice of changing the bottom sheet with the top sheet and replacing the top sheet with a clean sheet on a daily basis.

"Should the linen be soiled we will of course change all of the sheets for fresh linen and all linen is always fresh for new patients.”