DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release (2008/0004) issued by The Government News Network on 9
January 2008
Health Secretary
unveils new infection control strategy
Every hospital trust in England will be able to recruit two
infection control nurses, two isolation nurses and an
antimicrobial pharmacist with millions of pounds of extra
investment for infection control in the NHS, Health Secretary Alan
Johnson announced today.
New stringent requirements outlined today in the
Government's strategy to tackle healthcare associated
infections (HCAIs) also mean that NHS Foundation Trust
applications will not be supported by the Secretary of State
unless trusts are consistently hitting local targets on both MRSA
and C. difficile.
'Clean, safe care' draws together current HCAI
initiatives and details new areas where the NHS should invest the
extra funding of £270 million per year by 2010/11 to support
infection control and cleanliness in the NHS.
This funding will allow local organisations to invest up to £45m
on additional specialist staff*, who play a crucial role in
cleanliness and infection prevention & control.
Alan Johnson said:
"We have gone from what has been described by the HPA as
'a seemingly unstoppable rise in MRSA bloodstream infections
throughout the 1990s' to a 10% fall in cases of MRSA, thanks
to the hard work and dedication of NHS staff, but we know that
there is still more to be done.
"The investment of an extra £270 million and this strategy
will help the NHS to continue the good work going forward.
Patients have my assurance that the Government will not take its
foot off the pedal and will continue to do all we can to tackle infection."
From February 2008, a new nationwide campaign will be launched to
remind the public, GPs and other doctors that using antibiotics is
not effective on many common ailments. The campaign will also
highlight that inappropriate use of antibiotics can increase the
emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of infections and that
prudent prescribing is therefore required.
Alan Johnson continued:
"Healthcare associated infections are everyone's
responsibility from NHS cleaning and care staff to me as Secretary
of State - and I take that responsibility seriously.
"The past 60 years have seen great advances in healthcare
and medicine. For example, the use of antibiotics have saved
countless lives, but antibiotics do not work on most coughs, colds
and sore throats and their unnecessary use can leave the body
susceptible to gut infections like Clostridium difficile. The new
pharmacists that trusts will be able to recruit will be key to
ensuring proper antibiotic prescribing on wards."
As well as recently announced initiatives including a new
'Bare Below the Elbows' dress code and every hospital to
have undergone a deep clean by March 2008, the Strategy outlines
further areas that the Department is leading on to support the NHS
in the fight against HCAIs. These include:
Hospitals will receive more money earmarked to tackle infection -
The national tariff uplift includes a specific element to tackle
infection, meaning that trusts have additional resources at their
disposal Additional fines for trusts not improving infection rates
- as set out in December's Operating Framework for 2008/09,
the new national contract will allow PCTs to fine Trusts that are
not hitting local targets on Clostridium difficile improvement.
This is over and above the fines that the new Care Quality
Commission will be able to place on Trusts that are in breach of
the hygiene code.
Promoting innovations - a range of programmes designed to
accelerate the development and uptake of new technologies
Guidance on HR procedures to be developed in conjunction with
Trade Unions - including the importance of induction and training
on infection prevention and control for staff
A cleaning summit held by the NHS Chief Executive - focussing on
cleaners as part of the solution to infections and cleanliness and
not part of the problem
Chief Nursing Officer Christine Beasley said:
"Healthcare associated infections and cleanliness in
hospitals are often linked, and rightly so. We know that patients
do not want to receive care in a dirty hospital. A clean
environment is extremely important its own right, as well being
the best platform from which to tackle HCAIs.
"Preventing infections requires a range of measures, from
prudent antibiotic prescribing to implementing best practice in
chronic wound management and only a comprehensive approach will
succeed in driving down numbers."
Notes to editors
1. 'Clean, safe care' sets out where there are national
expectations and requirements for the NHS in tackling HCAIs- but
also guides NHS organisations as to the actions and investment
that will be most effective in continuing to tackle infection and
improve cleanliness in their local area. The document is also
written with patients, public and staff in mind. It can be found
at http://www.dh.gov.uk.
2. The recent Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) set an
investment of £270 million per year by 2010/11 to support
continued progress in tackling HCAIs and improving cleanliness.
This included £130m for the introduction of MRSA screening and a
further £140m by 2010-11 to reduce C. difficile infections.
The CSR investment was reflected in a 5.5% increase in PCT
allocations and the 2.3% uplift to the national tariff in 2008/09.
3. *The CSR settlement allows for local organisations to invest
up to £45m on additional specialist staff. These include:
Infection control nurses: The infection control nurse is a key
member of infection control teams in trusts alongside infection
control doctors and medical microbiologists. Investment in this
area would include training and development of existing staff as
well as recruitment of new staff. Antimicrobial pharmacists:
Pharmacists are extremely important in promoting good prescribing
practice. Investing in pharmacy teams will allow pharmacists to
work proactively with other clinical staff - such as medical
microbiologists, and infectious disease specialists - and free up
time to undertake other key activities such as clinical audits.
Isolation nurses: Following best practice in managing patients
with HCAIs will mean more isolation and cohorting of infected
patients. Investment in additional nursing staff will therefore be
needed to ensure that patient care is not compromised by increased isolation.
4. There are 173 Acute Trusts in England.
5. As set out in the NHS Operating Framework for 2008/09,
improving cleanliness and reducing healthcare associated
infections is one of the NHS's top priorities. NHS
organisations will have to maintain the annual number of MRSA
bloodstream infections at less than half the number in 2003/04 and
by 2011 there will need to be a 30% national reduction in C.
difficile infections from 2007/08 numbers.
6. Health Protection Agency (HPA) data published on 1 November
2007 showed a 10% fall in cases of MRSA in England from the
previous quarter, from 1,447 between January 2007 to March 2007 to
1,303 between April 2007 and June 2007.
HPA figures for C. difficile for the quarter April to June 2007
show a reduction of 7% in the 65 and over age group compared with
the same quarter in 2006.
7. Recently announced initiatives include:
Introducing screening for all elective patients by March 2009 and
for all emergency patients as soon as possible over the next three years;
Annual infection control inspections of all acute Trusts by the
Healthcare Commission using teams of specialist inspectors;
A new bare below the elbows dress code; and
Every hospital to have undergone a deep clean by March 2008;
5,000 matrons in place in the NHS by May 2008.
[ENDS]