Colour coding hospital cleaning materials and equipment

Colour coding of hospital cleaning materials and equipment ensures that these items are not used in multiple areas, therefore reducing the risk of cross-infection. The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has developed a National Colour Coding Scheme for cleaning materials. The recommendation is that all NHS organisations adopt this code as standard in order to improve the safety of hospital cleaning, ensure consistency and provide clarity for staff. There is currently no single colour code in use across the NHS. The National Colour Coding Scheme is designed to standardise, and in some cases streamline, existing schemes. It will have minimal resource implications for the service.