24 April 2008
New figures released on April 24 by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) demonstrate how Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust is reducing the incidence of healthcare acquired infections, including MRSA and C difficile, in its hospitals.
The figures, which are released quarterly, show that there were eight cases of MRSA bacteraemia found in patients between October and December 2007 which is nearly a 60% decrease on the previous quarter (19).
Cases of C. Difficile have also been reduced from 122 between July to September to 94 between October to December 2007 - a reduction of just under 25%.
Samantha Jones, Chief Executive, said: "We are very encouraged by the latest figures from the Health Protection Agency. The commitment of staff and volunteers across the Trust has helped us achieve so much, but we are not complacent and will continue to do all we possibly can in our fight against healthcare acquired infections.
"This is an important issue for patients, visitors and staff and, by working together, we know we can further reduce the number of cases of healthcare acquired infections we see each year.
"Patients and visitors should be assured that infection control remains the Trust's number one priority."
The Trust has introduced a number of high profile measures in its fight against healthcare acquired infections, including:
- Undertaking a £300,000 deep clean of our hospitals;
- Increasing the training given to all staff about infection control;
- Extending our MRSA screening programme so that we can detect and treat it quicker;
- Launching a major hand hygiene awareness campaign targeted at staff, patients and visitors.
