§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many hospitals screen patients for MRSA on admission; [19846]
(2) how many hospitals have reported cases of MRSA in the past 12 months; how many cases there were in total; and in how many cases MRSA was the cause of or contributed to death; [19847]
(3) what measures are being taken to prevent the spread of MRSA outside hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [19848]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonInformation regarding hospitals is not held in the form requested, but the Scottish centre for infection and environmental health monitors the overall incidence of MRSA across Scotland.
In May 1996, the Scottish Office issued information and advice to health boards, social service departments and residential nursing homes about the care of people in the community with MRSA and about infection control generally in residential and nursing homes. This included Department of Health publications entitled "MRSA—What nursing and residential homes need to know" and "Guidelines on the Control of Infection in Residential Homes", copies of which are in the Library.