Reid: MRSA crackdown

John Reid has pledged to slash the number of "superbug" infections in English hospitals.

Following a strong Tory-led attack on hospital acquired infections, the health secretary said he wanted to "dramatically reduce" MRSA bloodstream infections in hospitals by March 2008.

The target, which will be a key test for a third-term Labour government, is an attempt to rebuild confidence in NHS hygiene standards.

The announcement comes less than 24 hours after the new NHS hygiene watchdog announced that undercover inspectors will be sent into hospitals to assess standards of cleanliness.

The Conservatives have said the government's targets culture is resulting in NHS trusts being forced to cut corners in order to reduce waiting times.

But Reid said that setting a further target would improve standards.

"I have made it clear that lowering rates of healthcare acquired infections, such as MRSA is a top priority, and that the government is committed to a relentless campaign to control MRSA," he said.

"We were the first government to introduce and publish figures on the compulsory monitoring of healthcare associated infections, hospital by hospital so that we could measure MRSA infections.

"With that in mind, it is now time to go even further. I expect MRSA bloodstream infection rates to be halved in our hospitals by 2008."

Reid said that NHS acute trusts would be ordered to achieve year on year reductions up to and beyond March 2008.

"This is extremely challenging. All trusts will have to identify high-risk sources of infection and draw up comprehensive action plans to prevent or isolate MRSA in order to achieve this reduction," Reid continued.

"I do not regard this as something which is the responsibility only of one group of workers or one political party.

"It is naturally a challenge to us all, but at the centre of this are our hospitals and the staff who work in them.

"Nurses, doctors and other infection control staff will be in the front line of this drive to fight hospital infections.

"Everyone has a role to play - hospital cleaners are as important as consultants when it comes to these issues."