MPs: More must be done to stop superbugs
MPs and British Medical Association call on government to reduce hospital infections
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Tuesday, 10, Nov 2009 12:01
By Sarah Garrod.
MPs have called for more to be done to tackle hospital infections, saying they are "disappointed" the Department of Health has not taken on recommendations.
A report from the Commons committee of public accounts (PAC) today said infections such as MRSA were costing the NHS more than a £1 billion a year, and the DoH had "taken its eye off the ball" regarding infections.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has backed the report, saying the government needs to take more decisive action to tackle infections and superbugs.
Edward Leigh, chairman of the PAC, today said: "Healthcare associated infections cost the NHS more than £1 billion per year and can lead to serious disability and in some cases death. This is the third time that this committee has reported on the subject and it is disappointing that the department of health still has not taken on board a number of key recommendations.
"There has been progress. The department has achieved significant reductions in MRSA bloodstream and Clostridium difficile infections, for which it set national targets.
"But, in so doing, it has taken its eye off the ball regarding all other healthcare associated infections - which actually constitute most by far (four-fifths) of all infections."
He added that the evidence available shows avoidable infections, such as surgical site infections, have actually increased.
"Progress in combating these other infections is being bedevilled by a lack of potentially life-saving information," Mr Leigh added.
"The department is refusing to introduce mandatory surveillance of all hospital acquired infections - as we have recommended twice.
"If it had, it would now have a better grip on what is going on and be able to reduce the risks of patients getting these infections. And the NHS still has no idea how many patients are dying from the other healthcare associated infections."
In England, some 300,000 patients a year acquire a healthcare associated infection whilst in hospital. For some they can be fatal, and in 2007, there were 9,000 deaths recorded with Meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Clostridium difficile infections as the underlying cause of a contributory factor.
"The BMA believes that safety must take precedence over political targets. With winter around corner, hospitals will be working at full capacity. Targets need to be more flexible so that doctors are not pressurised to turn around patients too quickly," chairman of the BMA's consultants' committee, Dr Mark Porter, added.
"While patients obviously want to be treated quickly, we believe, they also want to be treated safely. Putting patients close together in time and space risks cross infection. The NHS must commission and design hospitals with more single rooms rather than larger wards and bays."