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Health Care-Associated Infections

The article in The Lancet would have been fine if that was all we were suggesting we should do. I have already mentioned a number of initiatives—deep clean is one—and I will mention a series of other measures. Of course, deep clean on its own will not solve the problem, but it is highly symbolic in that it gives patients the confidence that that is happening in their hospitals at least once a year. In addition to the measures I have mentioned, we are increasing the number of matrons to 5,000—to be in post by next spring. The hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire asked where that idea came from: one particular place it came from is his colleague, the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe)—whom I notice is present. When we discussed the Healthcare Commission report on Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, she was powerfully vociferous, as only she can be, on the need for more matrons in our hospitals. Sometimes, populist measures are right—and the public are absolutely right about the decline of matrons in the past. The right hon. Lady's point is important, because the public do see matrons in a certain light. Ward sisters do a tremendous job as well, but they also welcome the creation of more matron places because they see that as important for the job that they do.