NHS ‘not tackling full range of hospital infections’

The NHS is concentrating its efforts on tackling the two major hospital-based infections, but in the process has lost sight of the importance of tackling others.

This is the message outlined in a report compiled by the Public Accounts Committee, which examined the number of infections that can be contracted in UK hospitals.

It discovered that the prevalence of both the MRSA and Clostridium difficile bugs has been significantly curbed, but more action needs to be taken regarding others.

Chairman of the committee Edward Leigh stated: “The best available evidence is that other – just as deadly, but also avoidable – infections such as surgical site infections and pneumonias have increased.”

The report highlighted that over 300,000 patients in England catch infections every year while being treated in hospitals.

Meanwhile, yesterday a report published by the Scottish Ethnicity and Health Research Strategy Working Group called for more information to be recorded regarding the health of individuals from ethnic minority communities.