News Date: Thursday 3rd March 2005
Tim tackles Government on appalling rise in hospital acquired infections
Opening the debate yesterday in Parliament, Tim Loughton confronted the Government about the dramatic rise in the number of hospital acquired infections recently.
It is estimated that at least 5000 people died last year from Hospital Acquired Infections and yet doctors and nurses are often powerless to close down infected wards due to this control being taken away from them by the Department of Health.
A recent Patient's Association publication also reveals that hundreds of babies are dying each year from Hospital Acquired Infections, which is of great concern because neonatal units are by nature the most scrupulously clean wards in any hospital.
Tim commented:
'It is absurd that the Government has not prioritised the cleaning of hospitals given what a big problem MRSA is. Instead of tackling the problem head on, arming doctors and nurses with the power of closing wards if an infection breaks out, they are aggravating the problem by creating pointless targets which do more to create paperwork than to save lives.
The truth is that the Government are losing the fight against the superbug. The Government have got the system wrong, and until they change it matters will not start to improve fundamentally.'
ENDS
Note to Editor:
1. In just one year, the number of deaths from hospital superbug MRSA has risen by 20% from 800 to 955
2. Hospitals have been bombarded with no fewer than 23 initiatives in the past four years. In February 2000, departmental guidance was issued. In May 2000, the Department adopted and published "Standards of environmental cleanliness". In July 2000 there was the Government's NHS plan, which included a campaign to clean up hospitals. In December 2003, "Winning Ways Together" was published.
2. For links to the debate, click on: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmhansrd/cm050302/debtext/50302-27.htm#50302-27_head0
