LOCAL MSP DEMANDS TOUGHER INSPECTIONS TO BEAT SUPERBUGS
Friday, 20th November 2009
Paisley North MSP Wendy Alexander is demanding a tougher inspection regime to beat hospital superbugs. Her call follows reports that five people have died in an outbreak of C. difficile at Ninewells Hospital, in Dundee.In 2007 and 2008 there have been 35 deaths at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for which Clostridium Difficile was mentioned on the death certificate.
The MSP is calling for a series of specific measures to toughen the inspection regime and ensure greater transparency in the NHS:
- There should be a single website, updated in real time, showing the performance of every hospital in Scotland;
- There should be an immediate inspection of any hospital at which there is an ongoing outbreak to ensure that guidelines are properly followed;
- Inspectors should have the power to close wards, or any other part of the NHS estate, that fail to take sufficient action to prevent superbugs.
Speaking about the outbreak, Wendy Alexander MSP said:
“Every family should have the right to know that when someone they love goes into hospital they are treated in clean and safe conditions. That’s why I want to see a series of measures to toughen the inspection regime and improve patient safety.
“I want to see a single website that any member of the public can access, which is updated in real time, showing the performance of every hospital in Scotland. People in Renfrewshire have the right to know what is happening at our local hospital.
“Inspectors should also be required to visit hospitals, including the Royal Alexandra and Southern General, as soon as they hear that there is an outbreak of C. Difficile to offer specialist support and ensure that infection control guidelines are being properly followed.
“I believe that those inspectors should also have independent authority to close wards that fail to take sufficient action to prevent superbugs.”