Tony WrightTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to instruct hospitals to record on death certificates when MRSA is a cause of death. [146599]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Tony Wright, dated 14 March 2001:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question on plans to instruct hospitals to record on death certificates when MRSA is a cause of death (146599).Medical practitioners are required to certify the cause of death for patients under their care. Current legislation requires them to 'sign the certificate in the prescribed form stating to the best of his/her 652W knowledge and belief the cause of death'. Guidance issued to doctors asks that they describe the cause of death as fully and accurately as possible.