NHS Foundation Trusts applications will not be supported by Health Secretary Alan Johnson unless they are consistently hitting local targets on both MRSA and C.difficile, the Department of Health recently announced on unveiling a new multi-million pound infection control strategy.
Alongside recently announced initiatives including a new “bare below the elbows” dress code and “deep cleaning” of every hospital, the strategy sets out further areas on which the DoH will “lead” to support the NHS in the fight against HCAIs. Among measures to be implemented will be additional fines for Trusts not improving infection rates – as set out in December’s Operating Framework for 2008/09, with the new national contract allowing PCTs to fine Trusts not hitting local targets on Clostridium difficile. These penalties are over and above fines the new Care Quality Commission will be able to place on Trusts in breach of the hygiene code.
Also planned are “programmes designed to accelerate the development and uptake of new technologies”, guidance on relevant HR procedures, including the importance of induction and training on infection control, and a cleaning summit hosted by the NHS chief executive.
Alan Johnson said: “We have gone from what the HPA described as a ‘seemingly unstoppable rise in MRSA bloodstream infections throughout the 1990s’ to a 10% fall thanks to the hard work and dedication of NHS staff, but know there is still more to be done. The investment of an extra £270 m and this strategy will help the NHS continue the good work going forward.”
The NHS Operating Framework for 2009/09 stipulates that NHS organisations will have to maintain the annual number of MRSA bloodstream infections at less than half the number in 2003/04, while by 2011there will must be a 30% national reduction in C. difficile infections from 2007/08 numbers.
