MRSA Action UK

Healthcare Infections - a Manifesto

Tuesday, 02, Dec 2008 01:02


Welcome to MRSA Action UK’s Proposal to the Government

The target to reduce MRSA by half the 2004 level was we believe long overdue, and at the time thought to be unachievable by many NHS Trusts. MRSA Action UK has always believed it was achievable and that this could be greatly improved upon. Many NHS Trusts have worked hard and made great strides, and saved lives by preventing avoidable healthcare infections.

We wish the Government to invest and to build on the success and great achievements of those NHS Trusts and to continue this focus by pledging to

  • empower all healthcare providers to adopt a zero tolerance approach to avoidable healthcare infections across the healthcare economy

  • publish the mandatory collection of data on surgical site infections in this financial year, and introduce a target to reduce these, with year on year reductions in each clinical setting

  • introduce legislation and regulation for recording healthcare associated infections on death certificates in accordance with Office of National Statistics guidelines

  • introduce a compensation scheme for patients when things have gone wrong as a consequence of contracting avoidable healthcare infections, giving access to legal aid if cases are heard in court

  • invest in research into the lasting effects of healthcare associated infections on survivors, and provide better access to support services and benefits

  • work collaboratively with the EU to identify strategies for tackling the problem of antimicrobial resistance across the wider healthcare economy, in care homes and in the community

  • introduce education and advertising campaigns on the importance of hand hygiene

  • introduce the Search, Isolate and Destroy strategy, now being effectively used in Northern Europe

    To read Healthcare Infections – A Manifesto visit http://mrsaactionuk.net/manifesto.html

    For further information contact

    Derek Butler

    Chair, MRSA Action UK

    derek.butler@mrsaactionuk.net

    07762 741114

    http://mrsaactionuk.net

    Published 24th September 2008

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