§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the amount spent on infection control in the NHS for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement; [118853]
(2) how many NHS trusts have infection control teams in place; and what is the average amount spent by trusts on infection control in each of the past five years. [118852]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 17 April 2000]: All acute National Health Service trusts have an infection control team. Details of the amount spent by the NHS, including trusts, on infection control, are not held centrally. Expenditure on infection control is a matter for individual organisations to determine in the light of their local circumstances. Infection control is a priority for the NHS and is a "must do" in the "Modernising Health and Social Services National Priorities Guidance 2000/01—2002/03".
§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to revise his Department's 1995 guidance on infection control following the report by the National Audit Office on the Management and Control of Hospital-Acquired Infection in Acute Trusts in England; and if he will make a statement. [118855]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 17 April 2000]: Action has already been taken to update and reinforce the 1995 guidance. Infection Control standards for National Health Service acute trusts were issued in November 1999 and a circular was issued on 11 February setting out a timetabled programme of action to strengthen arrangements for the prevention and control of infection in hospitals.