Press release: NHS Confederation responds to HPA quarterly report on MRSA and C.diff infection figures

31 Jan 2008

Commenting on the report, Jo Webber, deputy director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said:

"The significant decreases in MRSA and C.diff rates show how the NHS is committed to addressing infection control and how, with the right focus, it can deliver. To ensure that infection rates continue to decline, a zero tolerance approach to infection must be embedded in the ethos of all NHS staff. Solutions need everyone - including the local community - to work together.

"The NHS Confederation is currently reviewing the learning from inspections and good practice to help boards understand their responsibilities in relation to HCAIs. Initiatives such as matrons and deep cleaning need to be part of a system-wide approach to tackling this issue."

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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