MRSA Action UK: How truthful are the figures for MRSA

Friday, 15, Aug 2008 12:00

Close scrutiny of the MRSA figures released by the Health Protection Agency last month lead MRSA Action UK to the conclusion that still more effort is needed in the focus on patient safety. We have seen in the paper this week the story of the lady who died with MRSA who was not counted in the figures. The sad fact is that this lady and many others like her will have passed away with a wound infection, which are not accounted for in the Government’s statistics. In many cases patients may be dying and the blood not tested, we cannot be certain that the reporting is accurate or certainly in this lady’s case, honest. The hospital spokesman may say that the figures were correct, but he didn’t say that the hospital is not MRSA free, as was previously reported. Zero cases of MRSA should mean that, it is misleading to say zero when there are still people dying with wound infections.

The Health Protection Agency MRSA figures released on the 17th July 2008 have raised issues that have not been reported widely. Our findings are shocking, contrary to Health Secretary Alan Johnson’s statement that we are within touching distance of reaching the 50% reduction in MRSA bacteraemia's set by John Reid on 5th November 2004, we find that

- The actual reduction is 36.25% and not almost 50% proclaimed by the Government

- The Total number of MRSA bacteraemia's for 2007/08 is 4438 which is 588 more than the Government target of 3850

- Of the 170 NHS Trusts in England and Wales 63.5% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in their MRSA bacteraemia's by March this year compared to 2004 figures.

- An incredible 17 of the NHS Trusts in England and Wales had more MRSA bacteraemia's by March 2008 than they had in March 2004. This is equivalent to 10% of the NHS Trusts.

- 22 NHS Trusts in England and Wales made less than 10% improvements in their MRSA bacteraemia's between March 2004 and March 2008. This is equivalent to 13% of NHS Trusts.

- 36 NHS Trusts missed their 50% reduction target of MRSA bacteraemia's by 10 or more cases of MRSA bacteraemias. This is equivalent to 21% of the NHS Trusts.

- 15 NHS Trusts missed their 50% reduction target of MRSA bacteraemia's by 19 or more cases of MRSA bacteraemias. This is equivalent to 9% of the NHS Trusts

- 8 NHS Trusts missed their MRSA reduction target of MRSA bacteraemia's by 20 or more case of MRSA bacteraemias. This is equivalent to 5% of NHS Trusts

- A staggering 68 NHS Trusts who had the highest number of MRSA bacteraemias in 2004 have failed to achieve the 50% reduction. This is equivalent to 40% of NHS Trusts.

- 65% of NHS Foundation Trusts failed to meet the 50% reduction in MRSA bacteraemias / 5 NHS Foundation Trusts had higher rates of MRSA in 2008 than in 2004 by as much as 13 cases

On a regional basis the worst performing Strategic Health Authorities are:

- North East 100% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in MRSA bacteraemias / 1 NHS Trust with higher rates of MRSA in 2008 than in 2004

- North West 79% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in MRSA bacteraemias / 5 NHS Trust with higher rates of MRSA in 2008 than in 2004

- South West 77% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in MRSA bacteraemias / 1 NHS Trust with higher rates of MRSA in 2008 than in 2004

- Yorkshire 73% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in MRSA bacteraemias / 3 NHS Trust with higher rates of MRSA in 2008 than in 2004

- East Midlands 62.5% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in MRSA bacteraemias

- South East 58% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in MRSA bacteraemias / 4 NHS Trust with higher rates of MRSA in 2008 than in 2004

- East of England 55% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in MRSA bactereaemias

- West Midlands 52% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in MRSA bactereaemias / 1 NHS Trust with higher rates of MRSA in 2008 than in 2004

- London 45% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in MRSA bacteraemias / 2 NHS Trust with higher rates of MRSA in 2008 than in 2004

Our Charity was dismayed yet not surprised by the Health Secretary’s comments following the release of the latest figures on the 17th July. However we feel that he and this Government have been more than economical with the truth regarding MRSA in our hospitals. We are reminded of what the Health Secretary and the Prime Minister promised at the last Labour Part Conference. The Prime Minister said that;

“I stand for a Britain where public services exist for the patient, the pupil, the people who are to be served, but we need to be honest: today the rising aspirations of the British people summon us to set a new direction. And we now have to make big practical changes to set a new standard of service. MRSA and C-Difficile are this century's hospital diseases which every modern country is now having to root out. And to make sure every hospital is clean and safe, following best practice around the world”.

Our Charity would ask the question when will that be?

Alan Johnson the Health Secretary said that;

“Too many patients feel insecure in hospital because of their fear of infection. Hospital-acquired infections are a global problem. We're making real progress against MRSA but the war against another infection, C-difficile, must be intensified.

Our figures show that patients have every right to feel insecure!

MRSA Action UK after analysing these figures has come to the conclusion that we can no longer believe anything this Government says in respect to Healthcare Infections and that going into hospital is now a lottery for patients on hospitals that have done well in reducing their infection rates, and those that have not.

Our analysis of the figures is a damming indictment on this Government’s performance to deliver on the promise of safer hospitals for patients to be treated in. Of the 17 hospitals with higher cases of MRSA bacteraemias in 2008 compared to 2004, how many have been given improvement notices because of their failure to even be able to reduce MRSA in their hospitals?

Our figures speak for themselves on the Government’s claim to be within touching distance of achieving the 50% reduction in MRSA in our hospitals. With 55,393 cases of Clostridium difficile which are now showing community acquired outbreaks we believe its time for openness.

Derek Butler

Chair

MRSA Action UK

Registered Charity No 1115672

Tel 07762 741114

http://mrsaactionuk.net