MRSA Action UK call for national action plan on healthcare infections

Monday, 16 February 2009 12:00 AM

MRSA Action UK believes that for far too long our Government has failed to put forward a concerted action plan to control MRSA, Clostridium difficile and other infections. The Scottish Parliament however have not taken a piecemeal approach and have sequestered the help of two leading independent experts in Patient Safety and Infection Control to come up with a 15 point plan of action to combat these infections in their hospitals.

The action plan has been brought about following events in the Vale of Leven hospital in West Dunbartonshire where over 50 people were infected with C-diff and 18 lost their lives. It is refreshing to hear the Scottish Minister say "that it requires the combined efforts of everyone in this parliament as well as the entire Scottish population if we are to succeed in reducing infection rates in Scottish hospitals".

Although we are seeing reductions in Healthcare Infections in hospitals in England & Wales, we cannot rely solely on just the initiatives introduced by Government. We need to look at the very best practices around the world bringing the best minds together as suggested by Sir Richard Branson last December. Sir Richard's proposal to convene a summit in London inviting experts to formulate a plan to present to the Government has great merit. As a Charity, we believe those with specialist knowledge in Infection Prevention and Control with a proven record of accomplishment would provide an opportunity to learn from the best. Putting safety first is not only a wise investment; it can actually pay dividends for those organisations that have implemented it thoroughly.

Elected leaders from all political parties would benefit attending a summit so that we have political consensus. Fighting Healthcare infections has to include every spectrum of our political life to show solidarity in the cause of fighting a common enemy.

One final group who should be included, are those people who have first hand knowledge of where the system has failed them with regard to Healthcare Infections. This group has the most to offer, because they have ultimately paid the highest price in respect to Healthcare Infections, those who have suffered from and those who care for people who have been affected.

Our Government should follow the lead of the Scottish parliament and form a specialist task force to look at implementing an action plan to reduce avoidable infections in our hospitals to as low as possible, but we need to look beyond acute care and broaden our planning to encompass the wider community, the Primary Care setting also has a growing problem with healthcare infections. The 15 point plan drawn up by Professor Hugh Pennington and Brian Toft is a sound starting point for the Scottish Parliament, and should form the basis for the work of a task force in England & Wales.

Sir Richard Branson has offered his help to our Government, and our Charity has the greatest respect for Sir Richard in what he is trying to achieve. He has the ability to be able to bring together the independent experts who can formulate a plan of action, and they should welcome this with an open mind.

Notes for Editors:

Scottish Labour's 15-point Action Plan to stop Hospital-Acquired Infections written by Professors Hugh Pennington and Brian Toft

Introduce a robust monitoring system for the implementation of guidance at a Board and hospital level is required. This should be subject to rigorous checks by inspection teams, independent of government, undertaking unannounced visits and not relying on a system of self-assessment.
An HAl Commissioner - to develop best practice and to co-ordinate and bring a sharper focus to the institutional clutter of those agencies responsible for tackling HAls.

Crash programme to provide isolation facilities for all CDAD/MRSA patients. This is the provision of en-suite single rooms in sufficient number to end sharing. The Scottish Government needs to outline the timescale and resources for this to be achieved across the NHS
Crash programme to provide quality hand-washing facilities (specifically temperature-controlled, sensor-operated, flow-regulated taps) appropriately positioned in all wards.
Real time detailed analyses at ward level, (with high resolution fingerprinting of the causative microbes) is essential in tracking the spread of infection and for outbreak identification and control.

Monthly reporting, on a hospital by hospital basis, must be published and available centrally online for every hospital. Quarterly reporting by HPS of Scotland wide statistics would continue.

Budget to ensure that staffing numbers in key posts - control of infection nurse, scientist/microbiologist and cleaning staff posts meet national guidelines. Antimicrobial pharmacists should be deployed in every hospital and a central contingency fund should be established to ensure cover for any staff shortages.

Urgent need for workforce planning. It is understood that there are currently no medically qualified academic bacteriologists to train future specialists or conduct research.
HEAT target to reduce the rate of clostridium difficile by 50% by March 2011.

Funding for the provision of surplus capacity of storage and washing facilities for soiled bedding and clothes at all hospitals in the event of an outbreak of C.diff.
Introduce sterile hygiene system for staff uniforms.

Facilities for steam cleaning of beds, curtains etc to be available in every hospital.
Budget for future increases in the levels of MRSA screening activity and the need for rapid turn-round times for tests with benefits both to the patients and to rapid infection control.
Funding for the Reference Laboratory should be increased to permit all isolates to be fingerprinted, and to develop typing systems which will identify new and potentially more virulent strains of C.diff.

A properly resourced reference laboratory should be established for Norovirus gastroenteritis, given its link to CDAD, in line with the MRSA and C.Difficile reference laboratories.
Related article: Branson issues NHS infection call - BBC News 23 December 2008

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