DoH: Measures are taking effect
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2008 11:44
Measures to reduce rates of the infections MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C.diff) have started to have an impact, the government has claimed.
Last year additional funding and new measures to reduce the infections were announced by the health secretary.
According to figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) during mid-2007 cases of MRSA and C.diff both fell.
"I have met many staff in recent weeks who are leading the fight against infections in our hospitals. The latest reductions in MRSA and C.difficile are a testament to their hard work and dedication," said health minister Ann Keen.
"[The HPA's] figures are a clear sign that the steps we took last summer to tackle infections - including doubling the size of infection-fighting teams and £50 million extra funding - have made an immediate impact.
"We remain on course to halve MRSA infections by the first quarter of 2008/09. C.diff figures also show encouraging progress."
Ms Keen added that the government "will always maintain a strong focus on infections".
"The NHS will receive hundreds of millions of pounds of extra investment over the next three years to tackle infections, as well as clear directions on where to spend it," she said.
"This includes recruiting more specialist staff and supporting the introduction of MRSA screening for all elective admissions by March 2009."
