Written question asked by Andrew Mackinlay (Labour) on Monday, 12 July 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 October 2004. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Monday, 4 October 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures he has instigated with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ensure that (a) there is correct and consistent reporting of deaths caused by MRSA, or where it is a contributory factor and (b) death certificates are completed as directed by the Government.

Answer: Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he has instigated with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ensure that (a) there is correct and consistent reporting of deaths caused by MRSA, or where it is a contributory factor and (b) death certificates are completed as directed by the Government. [184425] Miss Melanie Johnson: The proposal to reform the coroner and death certificate service is likely to improve information about methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection at or shortly before death in a number of ways. The emphasis on improved training for doctors in how to complete death certificates and the scrutiny of all certificates by specially trained medical examiners will improve the quality and completeness of information collected. The ability to link fact and cause of death to laboratory or patient records of infection will make it possible to determine how many people die following a diagnosis on invasive MRSA infection.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 424 c1985W;424 c1983W; 184425
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Death Patients MRSA Registration of births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk