NHS staff said to be making progress with waiting times and C.diff

Progress made to cut waiting times and reduce Clostridium difficile (C.diff) by NHS staff has been described as “excellent” this week.

According to the Department of Health, statistics for the month of August this year show that the NHS has met its national commitment to making sure treatment is started with 18 weeks of referral for 90 per cent of patients requiring admission to hospital and 95 per cent of those not requiring admission.

Data from the Health Protection Agency (April to June 2008) also found that C.diff infections in the over-65 age group have fallen by 18 per cent compared to the previous quarter, as well as 38 per cent since the corresponding quarter in 2007.

Alan Johnson, secretary of state for health, said achieving the 18-week commitment for waiting times was “great news”.

He added: “It is immensely rewarding to see such a significant reduction in C. diff following our investment in a comprehensive package of measures to drive down infections.”

C.diff can be fatal and those at the greatest risk of being infected are patients who have recently been treated with broad spectrum antibiotics.