§ 11. Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the extent of MRSA and measures taken to combat its spread. [19172]
§ Mr. HoramThe Department is currently working with professional groups on the revision of clinical guidelines on MRSA. We have also sponsored an educational video for nurses and issued an information leaflet on MRSA to nursing and residential homes. The public health laboratory service recorded incidents of MRSA in 177 hospitals in England last year, affecting just over 19,000 patients. Health authorities are required—through their contracts with providers—to ensure that adequate infection control arrangements are in place within hospitals. Hospitals are similarly required to ensure that their hospital infection control team covers all hospital facilities.