Brian Dash, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for the New Forest East Constituency today called on the Government to allow frontline NHS staff to be free from political interference so that they can get on with the job of treating patients and preventing infections.
The call comes as the National Patient Safety Agency has issued guidance saying the alcohol-based rubs should be offered throughout acute hospitals in England and Wales to cut the number of hospital infections. Brian Dash, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for the New Forest East Constituency, said: “This guidance to hospitals is to be welcomed. But the efforts of this agency and of infection control staff on the frontline are being hampered because infections are not seen as a big enough priority. “Government targets hamper the effort against infection. Patients are shunted from ward to ward and there is not enough time to clean beds properly between patients. Infection control staff are often ignored and the spread of infections continues. Ministers must get a grip on this situation and stop infections spreading. “Frontline staff should be free from red tape and political interference so that they can get on with the job of treating patients, and preventing infections.” * This comes in the wake of the number of hospital-acquired MRSA infections at Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Southampton General Hospital, had risen from 53 cases in 2002/2003 to 62 in 2003/2004.
The average number of detected cases among patients at the hospital every month during the past year has been 60.
A Southampton General Hospital spokesman said combating MRSA was a high priority.
* As reported in the Daily Echo in July 2004 and September 2004
|
