NSW Health has directed senior operational and clinical experts to resolve the deficiencies in the current contracted cleaning service provided for patients at RNS Hospital.

The overriding obligation of NSW Health is to patient safety.

The clear deficiency in cleaning services at RNS has led to a complex contractual, industrial and operational situation at the hospital.

In response, NSW Health has taken action to solve the situation. As it does in every hospital across the state NSW Health has acted, to ensure that patient safety is the priority.

NSW Health commissioned a Cleaning Action Plan from Mr Mike Wallace, a respected and highly experienced operational health manager, following a move by ISS to reduce their cleaning staff.

The Action Plan is underway, and Mr Wallace is already on the ground at the hospital directly supervising the implementation of the Plan.

It is our utmost priority to get Royal North Shore Hospital cleaning to a standard that addresses the concerns of patients and their clinicians.

The outcome of the conciliation at the IRC on Tuesday was that all parties agreed to implement the Action Plan.

Health expects Infrashore, and its sub-contractor ISS, to provide full co-operation to Mr Wallace to achieve an immediate turnaround.

Professor Cliff Hughes, Chief Executive of the Clinical Excellence Commission will also be working with Mr Wallace and clinicians at RNSH to ensure patient safety and proper infection control is in place.

NSW Health believes these steps will improve the cleaning situation in the hospital very quickly.

NSW Health will take every legal measure necessary and appropriate to ensure the Project Company, Infrashore and their subcontractor ISS, meet the contracted standards and honour the obligations they signed up to under the contract.