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Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

I agree. Of course, given that we both worked in hospitals back then, we know how important domestic staff are to the well-being of patients and of the contribution that they make to the team. If they are designated to be in one ward or clinical area, they take pride, and always have done, in their work, and feel as responsible for the cleanliness and infection rates of their hospitals as any member of the professional team. I agree with the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe), whom I met this morning, and who said, in her own way, that an air of carbolic is required in our hospitals once again. However, we must look at individual practice in the case before us, which we have said was unacceptable. Now we have to look to the future and help to restore community confidence in the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells area, and I know that hon. Members will work with us to help with that. Targets have been mentioned, but the Healthcare Commission pointed out that targets in themselves did not create this problem, because other organisations meet targets while keeping patient safety as paramount at all times. Complaints must be taken seriously. In this instance, for those of us concerned with health care professionals, one complaint would have been one too many. We also need to look to how we manage C. difficile infection in the future. It has always been an infection in its own right, and the medical care of patients and the appropriate use of antibiotics is paramount, as well as the cleaning. We must take a team approach to this difficult infection. In many areas of microbiology, other countries are now looking to us to see how we can assist them. We must not forget the hard work and dedication of our NHS staff who feel the anger and shame of what has taken place in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells. We all understand that the public expect to be cared for in clean hospitals, which is why the Prime Minister announced the big spring or autumn clean—whenever it takes place— but that is just one thing. It is not sufficient, but it will start to give the public the confidence that they always had in the cleanliness of our hospitals. The way in which clinical matters are managed and run needs to be looked at again. I could, of course, go back a few years when it was unheard of to have such a busy stream of people in and out of wards and clinical areas, and to see our hospitals used by so many people in so many different ways at the most inappropriate times. I have asked the chief nursing officer to look at that. Pilot projects taking place in parts of our hospitals are showing huge signs of saying, ““We will have rules and all the clinical staff will obey them.”” However, in this case, that is not enough. Senior people across the board will be, and have been, called to account. The Secretary of State and I want to work with a new chairman and chief executive, and to get round the table with all the hon. Members concerned to look at how best to do that. My door is open to all hon. Members in order to get this right and to see how best to work with constituents so that we can restore confidence in the NHS, in which we still have great pride. That is a serious issue. We can balance books and meet targets, which have helped patients, but we also need future targets to reduce infection rates and to adhere to a very strict code of practice. The chief executive, David Nicholson, has sent out a very strong message to all NHS managers saying that an atmosphere of being unable to report situations and of complaints not being taken seriously will not be acceptable at any level. All members of staff must feel that they operate in an open and safe environment, and patients and communities must always feel that about our beloved NHS.