This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/8248181.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Further drop in NHS infections | Further drop in NHS infections |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The number of MRSA infections in hospitals in England has fallen by 40% compared with the same period last year, figures show. | The number of MRSA infections in hospitals in England has fallen by 40% compared with the same period last year, figures show. |
| Between April to June this year 509 cases were reported compared with 839 in the same quarter in 2008, the Health Protection Agency said. | Between April to June this year 509 cases were reported compared with 839 in the same quarter in 2008, the Health Protection Agency said. |
| The latest figure is a quarter of the peak of nearly 2,000 in 2004. | The latest figure is a quarter of the peak of nearly 2,000 in 2004. |
| Rates of Clostridium difficile infection are also continuing to fall with a 37% drop from last year. | Rates of Clostridium difficile infection are also continuing to fall with a 37% drop from last year. |
| The HPA welcomed the progress but warned against complacency. | The HPA welcomed the progress but warned against complacency. |
| These are impressive results but we cannot afford to become complacent Dr Christine McCartney, HPA | These are impressive results but we cannot afford to become complacent Dr Christine McCartney, HPA |
| The government met its target to halve 2004 MRSA rates in summer 2008, and at the time ministers called for the NHS needs to focus on sustaining the reduction. | The government met its target to halve 2004 MRSA rates in summer 2008, and at the time ministers called for the NHS needs to focus on sustaining the reduction. |
| In April this year the Care Quality Commission identified 21 trusts in England which were not doing enough in areas such as cleanliness and decontamination. | In April this year the Care Quality Commission identified 21 trusts in England which were not doing enough in areas such as cleanliness and decontamination. |
| The regulator warned this small group of hospitals did not improve they would face tough measures such as fines and closure of services. | The regulator warned this small group of hospitals did not improve they would face tough measures such as fines and closure of services. |
| The latest figures show a 27% fall in MRSA infections in the second quarter of 2009 compared with the first three months of the year. | The latest figures show a 27% fall in MRSA infections in the second quarter of 2009 compared with the first three months of the year. |
| For C. difficile, there were 6,855 cases reported in patients aged two years and over during the April to June 2009, compared with 8,357 cases in January to March - an 18% reduction. | For C. difficile, there were 6,855 cases reported in patients aged two years and over during the April to June 2009, compared with 8,357 cases in January to March - an 18% reduction. |
| 'Priority' | 'Priority' |
| Dr Christine McCartney, executive director for the HPA's Healthcare Associated Infection and Anti-Microbial Resistance Programme said the continued reductions showed infection control was still a priority for the NHS. | Dr Christine McCartney, executive director for the HPA's Healthcare Associated Infection and Anti-Microbial Resistance Programme said the continued reductions showed infection control was still a priority for the NHS. |
| "These are impressive results but we cannot afford to become complacent. | "These are impressive results but we cannot afford to become complacent. |
| "Health workers must continue to use effective infection control measures in order to drive down infections further." | "Health workers must continue to use effective infection control measures in order to drive down infections further." |
| Health Minister, Mike O'Brien, said NHS staff should be proud of the achievement. | Health Minister, Mike O'Brien, said NHS staff should be proud of the achievement. |
| "Their hard work, together with our strategy for reducing infection is continuing to deliver real improvements in clean, safe care for patients. | "Their hard work, together with our strategy for reducing infection is continuing to deliver real improvements in clean, safe care for patients. |
| "However, we are clear that one avoidable infection is one infection too many and we continue to work tirelessly to reduce infection rates further." | "However, we are clear that one avoidable infection is one infection too many and we continue to work tirelessly to reduce infection rates further." |
| Patients Association director Katherine Murphy said: "It's laudable that the NHS is continuing to bring infection rates down but patients are still faced with a postcode lottery. | |
| "Some trusts are lagging far behind the rest. | |
| "We also have to remember that even with these improvements the NHS still performs poorly on infection control compared to other countries in Europe - we've still got a long way to go to ensure safety for patients." |