MRSA debate gathers pace

Saturday, 15 January 2005 12:00 AM

The Conservatives have criticised the Government's policies on health for the recent rise in MRSA cases in hospitals.

Health Secretary Dr John Reid had suggested contracting out cleaning was responsible for the 700 per cent increase in infection in the last four years of the Tory administration.

However, Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has responded to those comments by insisting that Dr Reid's survey showed 11 of the 20 of the worst acute hospital trusts to have in-house cleaning.

"The fact is since 1997 the number of cases of MRSA have doubled and the UK on the latest European estimates has the second highest levels of MRSA infection in Europe," state Mr Lansley.

"He can't possibly argue that it is to do with contracting out," the Shadow Health Secretary told the BBC.

"There is simply no direct relationship. There is a relationship between good cleaning and infection. Everybody understands that. The point is there is not a relationship between contracting out and infection control."

Mr Lansley added that infection control was not being properly monitored by hospitals, principally because of pressure to "push more patients through beds.""

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