Lancashire nostalgia in 2004: Bug watch at RPH; cat stuck in a tree; and Becks appeal at PNE

By Naomi Moon
Published 23rd Nov 2021, 15:45 BST
Royal Preston Hospital was just one of the Lancashire healthcare providers visited by bug watchRoyal Preston Hospital was just one of the Lancashire healthcare providers visited by bug watch
Royal Preston Hospital was just one of the Lancashire healthcare providers visited by bug watch
Here's a look at some of the stories that were making the headlines back in 2004:

Bug watch puts spotlight on Lancs hospitals

Doctors on a number of wards at Preston and Chorley hospitals are failing to wash their hands when visiting patients, a bug watch exercise has revealed.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Patient and Public Involvement Forum, undertook a project to check hospital wards for good practice in cleanliness and hygiene.

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Crystal the cat who had to be rescued from a tree after spending a week up there!Crystal the cat who had to be rescued from a tree after spending a week up there!
Crystal the cat who had to be rescued from a tree after spending a week up there!

While they found that the majority of nursing staff at Preston and Chorley hospitals were diligent when it came to proper handwashing techniques, they did find that some doctors were not quite so thorough.

The bug watch was carried out by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, along with other PPI forums in the North West, to help tackle the alarming rise in hospital acquired infections, such as MRSA.

The forum used a specially designed tool kit provided by the North West Office of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health, which involved teams of members completing questionnaires on wards at Preston and Chorley and South Ribble hospitals.

Hospitals were pre-warned about the bug watch visit, which led to some criticism that they could prepare by cleaning up.

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Preston North End are launching a David Beckham shirt to celebrate 10 years since he played for the teamPreston North End are launching a David Beckham shirt to celebrate 10 years since he played for the team
Preston North End are launching a David Beckham shirt to celebrate 10 years since he played for the team

READ MORE: Look back at a selection of pictures from 2004 here

Cat-astrophe for Crystal the kitty stuck up tree for a week

Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?

Unlike the nursery rhyme, mischievous moggie Crystal has not been to London to see the Queen.

The animal has spent the last two weeks stuck up an ash tree in Ashton, Preston.

The seven-year-old feline’s ordeal began on September 5 when her family’s pet German Shepherd startled her, prompting her to claw her way up the tree trunk.

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