NHS superbug strategy outlined

NHS superbug strategy outlined

The government has set out details of a national strategy to combat hospital infections.

The infection strategy for England will see more infection control nurses, patient screening, deep cleaning, as well as a campaign to cut antibiotic use, ministers said.

However, opposition MPs said that many of the details have been announced already and questioned whether hospitals would be able to meet a fast approaching "deep clean" deadline.

Ministers said that by 2011 there would be an extra £270m a year available for infection control. The money will be given to NHS trusts to appoint specialist nurses to combat infections and to introduce a MRSA screening from 2009.

Local health managers and regulators will also be able to fine hospitals that are not doing enough to meet C. difficile targets.

However, Liberal Democrat shadow health secretary Norman Lamb said it was far from clear whether or not the money would actually be used for anti-infection measures, such as recruitment of new staff.

He added: "Only this week we saw that the vast majority of hospitals have not begun their deep clean, despite a deadline less than two months away.

"The government is still unwilling to recognise the role played by hospital overcrowding. Wards around the country are full to bursting point, making it very difficult to isolate patients in event of an outbreak."

Health Secretary Alan Johnson conceded that there was "still more work to be done" but he was confident that both MRSA and C. difficile rates would continue to fall.

He also said the government was on track to meet its target to halve MRSA rates by the end of March 2008.

Health Insurance & Protection.com: January 2008