HC Deb 31 January 1996 vol 270 cc810-1W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines his Department has issued to general practitioners and NHS hospitals regarding the methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus bacterium [12399]

Mr. Horam

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus is a problem largely confined to hospitals. Guidance on the control of MRSA in hospitals was circulated to the national health service in September 1994 under cover of EL(94)74, entitled "Improving the Effectiveness of the NHS". New advice on the surveillance of MRSA was included in guidance on "Hospital Infection Control", published in March 1995 under cover of HSG(95)10. Copies of both documents are available in the Library.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to undertake further research into MRSA bacteria. [12336]

Mr. Horam

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Williams) on 22 January 1996,Official Report, columns 15–16.