90 patients die from MRSA & C.difficile infections in hospitals run by Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.
In a move possibly unique within this government, where abject failure and lack of responsibility are watchwords, Alan Johnson, the Health Secretary, has ordered the NHS trust to withhold severance payments from its former Chief Executive, Rose Gibb.
Johnson described the deaths as 'scandalous' and Medical Director Dr Malcom Stewart said that the trust 'was changing the way it offered services internally and externally, opening an independent sector treatment centre, managing a financial deficit as well as applying for foundation trust status.' Silly me, I thought doctors were interested in making the sick better!
One of the causes of the huge increases in hospital infections is the constant pressure from both this government and the previous one, to reduce costs within the NHS. This led to cleaning being subcontracted, the removal of the all-powerful Matron, and hospitals employing armies of paper shufflers. Hospitals exist to make us better when ill, and every patient MUST be treated with basic human dignity.
Ms Gibb, previously Chief Exec of North Middlesex Hospital when it was labeled the worst in the country for cases of MRSA, was this week described as being obsessed with targets. Given that the Labour government is itself obsessed with targeting and measuring everything, but not actually improving much, I would have thought that she would have been Labour's poster girl, not its scapegoat.
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The cleaning of the hospitals has little to due with the contractions of such infections as C-difficile,as it is to do wiht the fact that none of the modern day bleaches or disinfectants can remove the bacterial spores which cause the infection, so i suggest that you first understand the science behind it, before condeming a government for something which is not in its control.
I've read your comment with interest, and felt unprepared to post a reply until I did a little further research.
Did you know that Clostridium difficile exists completely harmlessly in nature? It can be found in swimming pools, in soil, in vegetables, raw meats, and surfaces around the home. If this is the case, then how come there is suddenly a rather large (and dangerous) outbreak of infection?
There was recently something of an epidemic in Quebec, which the authorities managed to limit, and, furthermore, as the disease was caused by a new mutation of the bacteria, managed to crack the genetic code of the "Quebec strain", allowing faster detection and treatment.
What's interesting is how the authorities managed to control the spread of the disease. They launched a large campaign, in newspapers, on the telly, and on the internet. Here's the advice they gave:
wash your hands for at least 15 seconds (then rinse and dry completely) before and after preparing food; after using the toilet; before eating; before and after changing a baby's nappy; before and after visiting a healthcare institution.
wash fruit and veg thoroghly.
And here's the best one:
clean contaminated or frequently used objects (toilet seat, chain, taps etc.) with WARM WATER AND A DISINFECTANT.
Now if they managed to stop the spread of the bacteria by the use of household soaps and disinfectants, surely those used by the NHS, (which I'd assume were far more potent)would be able to get rid of the bacteria more easily. Or are you telling me that bog-standard Domestos is better than hospital cleaners?
Had you read the comment thoroughly you would have discovered that I said the bacterial SPORES. these spores can last for months. the spores themselves can not be "killed" with disinfectant it is only the bacteria itself that can be killed. and the form in Quebec which i believe you are referring to is one that is not of great biological significance,as the strain is very different to the ones in england and other european countries. And the c-diff you are referring to which exist in food is one which is a completely different strain, saying that is the same as stating the fact that e-coli lives in the human digestive system! and there is a large outbreak of it because there has been a strain which has evolved which produces a toxin which is lethal to humans.
And there is actually only one absolute certain way of destroying the sprores of the bacteria, which is the creation of Ozone, which if you was not aware is extremly difficult to produce!
Many leading websites contain a FAQ section on Clostridium Difficile, especially following the recent catastrophe in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells.
One in particular is this one: http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/clostridium_difficile/C_diff_faqs.htm
To summarise the basic points from this website:
C. diff exists in nature (mentioned previously)
Those most susceptible are the elderly, and, perhaps more interestingly, those on certain antibiotics, which cause an upset to the natural balance of bacteria in the gut. As C. diff exists in the gut, this unbalance can cause an infection.
It can be passed from person to person, as spores are shed in human faeces, by those coming into DIRECT contact with infected patients or environmental surfaces.
C. diff spores can live for many months, but, importantly, cannot move on their own.
In many cases it can be treated with pro-biotic treatment.
Hospital outbreaks are not uncommon, due to the nature of wards. The best way to prevent outbreaks is to segregate infected patients, maintain rigorous hand washing practices and wash thoroughly with hot water and detergent.
Although spores cannot be killed with alcohol hand gel, they can be removed with soap and water, and a detergent with bleach should be used.
Now I'm no scientist, but this makes the message pretty clear for me.
Reduce antibiotic treatment on patients, especially the older generations, as we've seen antibiotics are becoming less and less useful, and many things can be treated with them or left alone to dissapear in the same length of time.
Increase cleaning practices in hospitals, provide more money for the cleaners to be able to carry out more rigorous cleans on a more regular basis (which is DIRECTLY linked to our Prime Ministerial by-stander).
Introduce segregation of infected patients.
Introduce disposable bed sheets, especially for those with incontinence.
Ensure all patients, staff and visitors wash their hands thoroughly and regularly after touching infected patients or surfaces these patients may have touched themselves, before touching any other surface.
And whilst we're on the subject, perhaps it would be a better use of taxpayers' money to reduce the number of middle-managers in the NHS, and introduce more cleaners and more staff...
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