Commission launched to control hospital infections

Wednesday, 24 October 2007 12:00 AM

A new regulator designed to control infections in the NHS has been announced by the health secretary, Alan Johnson.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) will work with both the NHS and adult social care services with the aim of cutting healthcare associated infections (HCAIs), among patients.

HCAIs have been in the news recently, following a report into an outbreak of Clostridium Difficile at three hospitals run by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust was released in recent weeks.

The new CQC will work to strengthen the existing monitoring systems in UK hospitals, and will have the power to carry out annual infection control inspections at all hospitals.

If high rates of HCAIs are detected the new body will have the power to step up inspections and close wards if necessary.

Mr Johnson said: "Despite progress, tackling infection remains a challenge for the NHS.

"I am determined that we will take action where necessary to safeguard patients and ensure staff feel able to report concerns.

"The regulator will have tougher powers to inspect and even close wards in order to protect patients and service users. NHS staff - such as matrons, nurses and porters - who spend every day on the wards, need to feel able to report concerns to the new regulator."

The new service will control standards of care in both the private and public sectors, with the aim of reducing the administrative burden on frontline services.

A range of sanctions are available to the CQC in order to ensure standards are maintained, including fining service providers, issuing early warning notices and eventually closing services down.

Mr Johnson continued: "The CQC will ensure that all patients receive a safe and quality service, no matter what part of the system they are accessing, and at which point."

The announcement follows promises made by Gordon Brown at the Labour conference earlier this year to reduce the prevalence of inflections such as MRSA and C-diff on hospital wards.

Mr Brown said at the time: "We will more than double the number of hospital matrons to 5,000. We will give matrons and ward sisters in all 10,000 wards the powers to report cleaning contractors and safety concerns directly to hospital boards and a stronger health care commission."

The proposals to create the new regulator are included in the Department of Health's response to the consultation The future regulation of health and adult social care in England.

The powers of the Care Quality Commission will be included in the new Health and Social Care Bill, due to be introduced in parliament this year.

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