Written question asked by Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour) on Monday, 22 November 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 24 November 2010. It was answered by Simon Burns (Conservative) on Wednesday, 1 December 2010 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus: Screening

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards meeting his Department's 2011 deadline for the screening of non-elective patients for MRSA.

Answer: As outlined in the ““NHS Operating Framework 2010/11””, there is a requirement to introduce Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening. Good progress is being made by organisations to implement screening for this cohort of patients, with some organisations already having declared full implementation of the policy and all organisations planning to implement emergency screening for relevant emergency admissions within the expected time scale. Strategic health authorities will continue to monitor delivery towards the requirement by 31 December 2010.

Secondary information