BMA welcomes key target on MRSA

Main Category: MRSA / Drug Resistance
Article Date: 21 Jul 2004 - 17:00 PDT

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As the British Government today (21/7/04) launches its new standards for the NHS ? National Standards, Local Action: Health and Social Care Standards ? Mr James Johnson, Chairman of the BMA (British Medical Association) renews the call for tough action on MRSA:

"The Government has again highlighted the incidence of MRSA and other hospital acquired infections as a key issue to beat as it today launches new standards for health care.

"Doctors can lead by example by ensuring that they clean their hands before touching their patients. Hand washing is still the simplest and quickest way of preventing the spread of infection in hospitals. It is not the only or the whole solution to the problem, but it is an effective one.

"The medical profession gave overwhelming backing to this simple infection control measure at the BMA's annual meeting last month so that it becomes socially, morally and ethically unacceptable for doctors not to wash their hands before touching each and every patient.

"Doctors, nurses and other members of NHS staff who have contact with patients must take ownership and responsibility for their own practice and organisations must ensure that policies and procedures are implemented and appropriately resourced."

Ends

For more information please contact:

Christine Mundin
Tel: 020 7383 6549
Fax: 020 7383 6403
Email: cmundin@bma.org.uk

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