Press release: NHS Confederation responds to Health Protection Agency quarterly figures on HCAIs

01 Nov 2007

Commenting on the figures, Dr Gill Morgan, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents 95% of NHS Organisations said:

"Infection control is at the top of the board agenda in the NHS.   The reduction in MRSA rate shows how the NHS is committed to addressing this problem and with the right focus can deliver.  Tackling c. diff is a different challenge from MRSA and making full information available will help.

"The HPA also points out that its figures should not be used to make comparisons between trusts.  In many instances it will be like comparing apples and pears.  This is because their data comes from hospital labs so they will also be returning results on all samples sent in from the local services outside the hospital such as GP surgeries and care homes.

"Reducing infections works best when it is a whole organisation and whole community agenda - managers, clinical staff (doctors, nurses), non-clincial staff (porters, cleaners), patients and visitors all need to be play their part.  There must be zero tolerance when anyone sees poor or inappropriate behaviour taking place.

"The Confederation is reviewing the learning from inspections and good practice to produce recommendations for NHS organisations and the government on how to improve the system.   Initiatives such as matrons and deep cleaning need to be part of a system-wide approach to tackling this problem."

Notes for editors

The NHS Confederation represents more than 95% 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.

Contact details

Contact Niall Smith 020 7074 3304 or 07767 770309, Ruth Kennedy 020 7074 3312 or 07884 47 3086, or Ruby Casey-Knight 020 7074 3306 or 07881 957305.  For out of hours media enquiries, please call the Duty Press Officer on 07880 500726.

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