New government measures to tackle MRSA
01/01/2000
I would recommend Alexander Harris because they provide a very good service.
Stephanie, Cheshire
New sanctions for hospitals which fail to meet strict hygiene standards are to be introduced, the Government said today.
The Health Improvement and Protection Bill will introduce a hygiene Code of Practice for all NHS bodies, independent healthcare providers and care homes.
All healthcare bodies will face improved inspection arrangements by the Healthcare Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection.
Sanctions will be available to deal with bodies which fail to meet the standards, and where the code is not being followed they could be issued with an improvement order.
If action is not taken after the order is issued, special measures could be put in place to deal with those units involved such as bringing in outside teams to tackle the problem.
Last week new Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt used her first speech to say it was unacceptable that food production units in the UK had stricter hygiene measures than the NHS.
She said the Government would be consulting on the measures which could be taken to tighten up cleanliness in the battle with hospital superbugs like MRSA.
Alexander Harris has seen an increase in the number of enquiries we have received from patients or their family members who have contracted MRSA.
Deborah tested positive for MRSA after surgery to correct the natural curve in her spine, known as scoliosis. Metal work was used to straighten the curve during the surgery in November 2000. Doctors tried to clean the wound under anaesthetic. But it didn't heal for two years. The metal work was eventually taken out altogether to get rid of the infection, three years after it had been put in. What Deborah didn't know was that at the time of her hospital admission there were a number of patients who were reported MRSA positive.
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