Written question asked by Lindsay Hoyle (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 28 February 2005. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Monday, 28 February 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the steps which are being taken to fight MRSA at (a) Chorley and (b) Preston Hospital.

Answer: Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the steps which are being taken to fight MRSA at (a) Chorley and (b) Preston Hospital. [216205] Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department takes the issue of healthcare associated infections very seriously and has told the national health service that infection control should be at the heart of good management and clinical practice. The Department has set a target to reduce methicillin resistant "Staphylococcus aureus" by 50 per cent., by 2008 from an April 2005 baseline. The National Patient Safety Agency launched the first national hand hygiene campaign, "cleanyourhands" in September 2004. Commitments in the Chief Medical Officer's publication, "Winning Ways" and the Department's action plan, "Towards Cleaner Hospitals and Lower Rates of Infection" and the NHS's "Matron's Charter" have focused on evidence-based actions to reduce infections.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 216205; 431 c986W;431 c982W
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Hospitals Infectious diseases MRSA Lancashire Chorley and South Ribble Hospital Royal Preston Hospital
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk