HC Deb 07 February 1985 vol 72 cc682-3W
Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence he has of the level of cross-infection within hospitals in each of the last 10 years.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

We do not hold such information centrally. The public health laboratory service report on the national survey of infection in hospitals, 1980 suggests that there is a 9 per cent. rate of hospital acquired infections amongst inpatients. However, not all such infections are serious or preventable.