Hospital infections now in retreat

HEALTH staff have been praised for their efforts to transform services.

Mike Farrar, chief executive of NHS North-West, has spoken out after recent figures showed the majority of Oldham area hospital trusts and primary care trusts have met national targets.

These include a maximum wait of 18 weeks for patients starting treatment after a GP referral, and a fall in the number of cases of the Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infection and MRSA.

Mr Farrar said: “NHS staff have had to face a number of big challenges in recent years.

“It was imperative that we made our hospitals and health centres safe environments. We also felt that we had a duty to end needless waiting for NHS treatment.”

The Department of Health has set a target to reduce C. diff infections by 30 per cent in the next three years and MRSA rates by 57 per cent from levels recorded in 2003-04.

In addition, the national target is for patients referred by their GP to begin their treatment within 18 weeks unless the patient chooses to delay or there are clinical reasons.

Mr Farrar added: “Even five years ago, it wasn’t uncommon for some patients to have to wait anything up to 18 months for their treatment to start. Our doctors, nurses, therapists and managers have worked closely together to transform the experience of patients, making sure they have more accessible treatment.

“We have more front-line NHS staff than ever before, and this, coupled with investment in NHS services, has made a big difference.

“All NHS staff take infections such as MRSA and C. diff seriously. Preventing and controlling infection is an ongoing priority for everyone.

“We will continue to work hard and to share successful ways to improve in this area and to make sure that good performance is sustained.”