In response to a Freedom of Information request concerning the RAH’s response to rising C-Diff cases local MSP Wendy Alexander has written once again to cabinet secretary Nicola Sturgeon demanding hospital by hospital reporting on C-Diff cases.

Wendy Alexander told the health secretary we know now that at the RAH

• One in Four beds are not far enough apart

• The cleaning budget per bed in real terms has been cut by £3855 over the last year

• Only one in five staff have had infection control training in the last year, despite the recent severe outbreak at the Vale of Leven

• Eighty eight cases of C-Diff were recorded at the hospital in six months from December 07 to May 08 this year

Wendy Alexander said:

‘It is about time the health Secretary committed to hospital-to-hospital reporting of infection rates. By  7 August the report on the outbreak at the Vale of Leven was received by Ministers. In September the Health Secretary promised, in response to a question from me in the Parliament chamber that she would look at the issue.  So why almost 3 months later are we still waiting for action on the vital matter of requiring hospitals to publicly report the number of CDiff cases?’

Ends

Notes for editors:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7719918.stm

Attached correspondence between Wendy Alexander & Cabinet Secretary Nicola Sturgeon September 08

Scottish Parliament Official Report 11th September 2008
10:14
Nicola Sturgeon: …  Hugh Henry made legitimate points on the nature of assessment and inspection in our hospitals, as did Wendy Alexander when she intervened on him. As I said in my opening remarks, the issue is under my active consideration.