OptusGlean UK is a nationwide healthcare cleaning contractor delivering NHS-aligned, CQC-compliant cleaning across hospitals, GP surgeries, dental practices, clinics and care settings in all four UK nations. We clean to the NHS National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2025 (FR1–FR6 risk categories) using DBS-checked, directly employed operatives, fixed monthly pricing and one national account manager for every site.
What standard governs healthcare cleaning in the UK?
Healthcare cleaning is governed by the NHS National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2025 (which superseded the 2021 standard) and, for registered providers, by CQC Regulation 15 (premises and equipment) and Regulation 12 (safe care and treatment, including infection control) under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. The standards apply to every healthcare environment — acute, mental health, community, primary care, dental, ambulance and care homes — regardless of who provides the cleaning (NHS England; CQC). Every functional area is assigned a Functional Risk category that sets its target score and audit frequency.
| Functional Risk | Target audit score | Audit frequency |
|---|---|---|
| FR1 (e.g. operating theatres) | 98%+ | Weekly |
| FR2 (e.g. wards) | 95%+ | Monthly |
| FR3 | 90%+ | Every 2 months |
| FR4 | 85%+ | Every 3 months |
| FR5 | 80%+ | Every 6 months |
| FR6 (e.g. store rooms) | 75%+ | Every 12 months |
Areas scoring 3 stars or fewer against target must carry an improvement plan with agreed timescales (NHS England).
How do you keep our premises CQC-inspection ready?
We build the cleaning specification around the evidence a CQC inspector looks for under Regulation 15: premises that are visibly clean and free from offensive odours, an appropriate cleaning schedule, monitored cleanliness, prompt action on shortfalls, and trained cleaning staff (CQC Regulation 15 guidance). Under Regulation 12(2)(h) we support your infection prevention and control by using the BICSc four-colour coding scheme — red for washrooms, blue for general areas, green for kitchens, yellow for clinical/isolation areas — to prevent cross-contamination. You receive audit records and a documented schedule you can hand straight to an inspector. For the full CQC premises taxonomy, see our CQC premises cleaning hub and our dedicated healthcare cleaning service.
Who cleans our healthcare sites, and are they vetted?
Every operative is directly employed by us on PAYE — never a self-employed sub-contractor — and vetted before their first shift: DBS-checked in England and Wales, Disclosure Scotland (PVG where the role requires it) in Scotland, and AccessNI in Northern Ireland. Cleaners working in healthcare settings, care homes and other regulated activity with vulnerable groups are put through an Enhanced DBS check (currently £49.50), with a Barred List check where the role is regulated activity (gov.uk). Staff are trained on COSHH, colour-coding and infection control before deployment, and we pay at or above the statutory National Living Wage of £12.71 (April 2026) — with the real Living Wage available where your trust or tender requires it.
Can one contractor cover every site across the UK?
Yes. OptusGlean UK is the national alternative to small city-based cleaning firms: one national contract cleaning agreement, one cleanliness standard and one account manager across every site you run — instead of juggling a different local cleaner in every town. See our approach to multi-site cleaning and why buyers choose OptusGlean. A regional or single-city cleaner cannot deliver a consistent NHS/CQC standard across a hospital group, a national GP network or a care-home portfolio spread over several nations. We standardise the specification, audit method and reporting across all of your locations, so a site in Glasgow is cleaned to the same measured standard as one in London — on a single fixed monthly invoice.
How is healthcare cleaning priced?
We price on a fixed monthly fee by Direct Debit, not by the hour — so your budget is predictable and there is no incentive to cut corners on time. The fee reflects the mix of Functional Risk areas, audit frequency and any specialist requirements (theatre turnaround, isolation deep cleans, decontamination). Commercial cleaning is standard-rated at 20% VAT (gov.uk). Every quote follows a free site survey; call 0330 027 2159 or request one online.