Worcestershire hospitals praised for superbug fight

Dec 21 2007 By Emma Cullwick, Birmingham Mail

STAFF at three Midland hospitals have been praised for their efforts in their fight against so-called superbugs MRSA and Cdiff.

An inspection team from the Department of Health was impressed by nurses and doctors at Kidderminster Hospital, the Alexandra in Redditch, and Worcestershire Royal, in Worcester.

Michael O'Riordan, chairman of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs all three hospitals, said: "The inspection team were left in no doubt about our determination to protect our patients from these infections and they were full of praise for the work we have done over recent months.

"This was a follow-up visit from an earlier inspection in September, and the inspection team was so impressed by what we had achieved since then that we have been invited to take a presentation of our work down to the Department of Health in London next month."

The trust's chief executive John Rostillckd added: "This is not the first time that a team of independent inspectors has had plenty of good things to say about our infection prevention and control initiatives.

"Listening to the feedback from the inspectors made me proud of our staff. Reducing infection rates remains a top priority for this trust, and we are far from complacent, but I believe we are starting to make real positive progress."

The news comes as the trust is about to embark on a £1 million "deep clean" of its hospitals over the next few months.

Other initiatives have already been swung into action in a bid to wipe out potentially deadly infections.

All medical staff now have to wear short sleeves with no wristwatches or rings, and speakers which are activated by movement remind staff and visitors to use alcohol hand gels at entrances to every ward.