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New plan to tackle hospital infections unveiled |
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Monday, 26 November 2007 |
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon today announced a £54m increase in funding aimed at tackling healthcare associated infection over the next three years.
The delivery plan will see the funds invested in a raft of measures to
tackle hospital infections, including the establishment of a national
MRSA screening programme, increased monitoring of hand hygiene
compliance in the healthcare sector and an increase in hospital
cleaning standards.
A series of measures will also be introduced to reduce patients' risk
of contracting infections such as Clostridium difficile. A Clostridium
difficile reference laboratory for Scotland has been set up at Stobhill
Hospital, which hopes to speed up diagnoses.
This is the first healthcare associated infection plan based on actual
evidence of the extent of infections in Scottish hospitals, following a
prevalence survey published earlier this year that showed the true
level of hospital infections for the first time.
Sturgeon said: "We should recognise that good progress has been made in
reducing hospital infections, but should be under no illusion that more
needs to be done. Today's delivery plan is about upping the ante in the
fight against hospital bugs.
"Patients and the public can expect the measures I am announcing today will make a real difference.
"The development of an MRSA screening programme demonstrates our
determination to tackle one of the main sources of hospital infection.
I know this is the right way forward and am convinced screening will
reduce the risk of MRSA infection and save lives."
Sturgeon also announced that she wants all NHS boards to reach a target
of at least 90 per cent hand hygiene compliance by this time next year.
Health Protection Scotland will also be asked to undertake more regular
hand hygiene audits.
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