§ 11. Simon Hughes (Southwark, North and Bermondsey) (LD)What the (a) figures for and (b) rates of hospital infections in Greater London were for the years (i) 2000–01, (ii) 2001–02 and (iii) 2002–03 and if he will make a statement. [155728]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health(Dr. Stephen Ladyman)In 2001–02, there were 1,571 reports of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections in the London region and 1,655 reports in 2002–03. The rates for those years are 0.23 and 0.25 cases per 1,000 beds respectively. Earlier data and data for other infections are not available.
§ Simon HughesCan the Minister tell us what that means in crude terms in London, which is the region with the highest rate of infection, in deaths and other illnesses caused by hospital-based infections? A commission will be set up in April. Will it provide an annual report, region by region, on deaths and illness from hospital-based infections?
§ Dr. LadymanIt is not possible to give precise information about how many deaths result from hospital-acquired infections, because they are acquired by people in a weakened condition as a result of other illnesses and death usually results from the other illness. I cannot give the hon. Gentleman the figures that he requests, but I can assure him that the chief medical officer is leading our campaign to drive down the rates of hospital-acquired infections and that is as applicable in London as anywhere else.