§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the. Secretary of State for Defence whether the restrictions on admissions to the Cambridge military hospital in Aldershot, Hampshire have yet been lifted; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyThe Cambridge military hospital, Aldershot restricted routine in-patient admissions from 16 to 26 May as a precautionary measure following the identification among new patients of the Methicillinresistant staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The GPs of all patients affected by cancellation of appointments were notified of the reasons behind this restriction, which had the approval of the local NHS consultant in communicable disease control. Neighbouring hospitals were also kept informed of the situation.
The MRSA bacteria was systematically cleared from the hospital and no patients or staff developed any symptoms of MRSA infection. The hospital reopened for routine and emergency admissions from noon on 25 May and elective surgical lists resumed on 26 May 1994. The out-patients department and the maternity wing remained open throughout, while the accident and emergency department stayed open for out-patient cases and emergencies which, could not be safely transferred to other hospitals.