UK Considering Legislation On Health Hygiene In Hospitals, Nursing Homes And Care Homes

Main Category: MRSA / Drug Resistance
Article Date: 08 Mar 2005 - 9:00 PDT

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UK Health Secretary John Reid announced today new proposals for enabling legislation that would allow the government to extend to hospitals, care homes and nursing homes a statutory Hygiene Code.

He discussed the plans with Health and Social Care Regulators this afternoon.

Speaking after the meeting Health Secretary, John Reid, said:

"Thanks to the range of measures we have introduced and the efforts of NHS staff, we are beginning to see results in the battle against MRSA in our hospitals. Figures released today show that the tide is turning, with the lowest level of MRSA cases since recording began.

"But I am not complacent and will continue to seek further ways to combat hospital acquired infections wherever they come from.

"That is why I am exploring with Health and Social Care Inspectors the prospect of extending to hospitals, care homes and nursing homes a statutory Hygiene Code.

"Such a statutory Hygiene Code would apply to both the public and independent sectors.

"There are a number of key bodies and experts that we need to consult. And today I met with the Health and Social Care Inspectorates to explore how plans for enabling legislation could be taken forward."

The Government has already taken a range of actions to improve hygiene and infection control.

- Since 1997 it has:

- started biggest hospital building programme in the history of NHS

- recruited more staff than ever before including 77,500 more nurses

- put in £68m to improve cleanliness and hospital appearance.

- ensured all hospital trusts now have infection prevention and control teams.

- ensured most hospital trusts have a Director of Infection Prevention and Control.

- introduced 3,000 Modern Matrons who have successfully raised profile of infection control. We now have 3,000 modern matrons - far exceeding our original target of 500.

- And the Government is doing more to improve hospital hygiene and cleanliness:

- hospital hygiene and cleanliness and infection control will be core elements of the new NHS "health check" to be run by the Healthcare Commission - the Commission published its proposals on 29 November 2004

- the government has launched the first ever national campaign to promote hand cleaning throughout the NHS - the 'cleanyourhands' campaign - over 140 acute Trusts have signed up so far

- local patients groups will conduct cleanliness inspections and make results public, starting this year

- published a Matron's Charter - an action plan for cleaner hospitals.

- And the Chief Nursing Officer has made raising hospital cleaning standards and tackling MRSA her top priorities

Notes For Editors

1. MRSA bloodstream infections in NHS acute trusts in England April 2001-September 2004

- England was down 6.3% on the same period last year

- MRSA rate on average is lowest since mandatory recording began

2.: National MRSA reports from the mandatory surveillance scheme in England (Apr 01 - Sept 04) and MRSA reports from the mandatory surveillance scheme for every NHS trust can be found on the DH website

MRSA reports from the mandatory surveillance scheme in England broken down by region can be found at:

http://www.hpa.org.uk

3. For further media enquiries before 7pm contact Ben Lewis on 020 7210 4990 at DH Media Centre or after 7pm the DH duty press officer on 07050 073 581

[ENDS]
GNNREF: 112059
Issued by : DOH Press Office (UK)

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