Press release: NHS Confederation responds to new MRSA and C. difficile figures
25 Jul 2007
Commenting on the figures released by the Health Protection Agency on healthcare associated infections, Gill Morgan, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation which represents over 90 per cent of NHS organisations, said:
"It is clear that a great deal of progress has been made in tackling healthcare associated infections (HCAI). Any HCAI is an extremely serious matter and it should also be emphasised that these figures represent a very small proportion of the 10 million inpatients that the NHS treats in hospitals every year.
"The NHS is committed to solving this problem and it is encouraging that the greatest progress in tackling MRSA has been made in those areas that previously had the highest rates of infection. In a similar way, the NHS is now much better at detecting cases of C. diff which may have resulted in the rise in reported cases. Furthermore, the rate of increase in C. diff is slowing.
"Nevertheless, we should of course be aiming for zero infections from HCAIs and the extra £50 million that the Department of Health is investing to tackle MRSA and C. diff is to be welcomed.
"HCAIs are widely recognised as an intractable problem for the NHS and the solutions will need everyone - including the local community - to work together. We must be vigilant about hygiene standards at all times - and this is especially the case amongst the most vulnerable groups such as the elderly. It is within this context that we must view and deal with the issue."
ENDS
Notes for editors
The NHS Confederation represents more than 90% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
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