§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the working group on the prevention of infection in hospitals was set up; who were the members of it; what were its terms of reference; what was its method of operation; when its report was completed; if it is to be published; what action is being taken on its recommendations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonThe Hospital Infection Working Group was convened in September 1985.
The chairman of the working group is Professor E. M. Cooke of the Central Public Health Laboratory Service, Director of Hospital Infection.
Other members of the working group are:
- Professor G. Ayliffe — Director of the Hospital Infection Research Laboratory, Birmingham
- Dr. J. A. Child—Consultant Clinical Haematologist and Physician at Leeds General Infirmary
- Dr. R. T. Mayon-White—Consultant Epidemiologist, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford
- Mr. M. Ruane—District General Manager, Central Manchester Health Authority
- Ms. L. J. Taylor — Clinical Nurse, Central Public Health Laboratory, Director of Hospital Infection
- Mrs. M. A. Worsley — Senior Nurse on Central of
118 North Manchester Health Authority - Dr. A. P. Gillett—Stoke Mandeville Hospital
- Dr. C. L. R. Bartlett—of Public Health Laboratory Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre
DHSS officers also participated and provided the secretariat.
The terms of reference were:
To provide expert support to the DHSS in its central coordinating role in the field of infection control in hospitals; to revise the guidance on the management of infection control in hospitals including monitoring; to highlight any gaps in guidance on infection control in hospitals relating to specific areas; and to highlight current guidance or practice that is not cost effective".As their first task the group were asked to prepare draft guidance on management arrangements for hospital infection control. In undertaking this task they have taken account of relevant recommendations in the report of the Stanley Royd hospital inquiry. The group's method of operation was by discussion of papers prepared by individual members, who collectively have considerable expertise and experience of all aspects of this subject. The final version of the group's recommended guidance on management arrangements for hospital infection control is imminent. We shall consider urgently the best way of promulgating this advice.