HC Deb 12 March 2004 vol 418 cc1824-6W
Dr. Murrison

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence of MRSA infections was in(a) NHS hospitals, (b) non-NHS hospitals and (c) nursing and residential homes was in each year for which records are available. [159674]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Information on where methicillin resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are acquired is not available.

The national mandatory surveillance system for MRSA blood stream infections (bacteraemias), started in April 2001. All acute hospital national health service trusts in England now collect this information and results for the first two years are shown in the table.

Mandatory surveillance—reported MRSA bacteraemias
Number
2001–02 7,226
2002–03 7,330

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts have not signed the controls assurance standards on infection control to indicate that they have done their reasonable best to comply with the standards. [159776]

Miss Melanie Johnson

For reporting year 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003, all national health service trusts assessed themselves against the controls assurance standard on infection control and reported their assurance scores based on this assessment to the Department.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring his Department undertakes of NHS trusts' compliance with the controls assurance standards on infection control; and if he will make a statement. [159777]

Number of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia laboratory reports and rate per 100,000 population—voluntary laboratory surveillance: 1996–2002
1996 1997 1998 1999
Region No. MRSA Rate No. MRSA Rate No. MRSA Rate No. MRSA Rate
North East 10 0.39 46 1.78 138 5.35 143 5.55
Yorkshire and Humberside 50 0.73 130 1.89 197 2.86 181 2.63
East Midlands 40 0.79 130 2.57 143 2.83 215 4.25
Eastern 159 3.78 271 6.44 364 8.65 442 10.50
London 327 6.13 447 8.38 422 7.91 458 8.58
South East 228 4.18 321 5.88 375 6.87 404 7.40
South West 87 1.18 191 2.59 191 2.59 305 4.14
West Midlands 267 3.29 336 4.14 396 4.88 498 6.14
North West 105 2.11 173 3.48 295 5.93 367 7.38
England 1,273 2.55 2,045 4.09 2,521 5.04 3,013 6.03
2000 2001 2002
Region No. MRSA Rate No. MRSA Rate No. MRSA Rate
North East 185 7.18 179 6.95 236 9.390
Yorkshire and Humberside 314 4.55 378 5.48 496 9.955
East Midlands 331 6.54 404 7.99 441 10.461
Eastern 477 11.34 604 14.35 620 11.438
London 549 10.29 525 9.84 691 9.395
South East 564 10.33 724 13.26 745 9.269
South West 373 5.06 479 6.49 541 10.908
West Midlands 771 9.50 817 10.07 768 14.479
North West 365 7.34 453 9.11 477 7.068
England 3,929 7.86 4,563 9.13 5,015 10.12383

Miss Melanie Johnson

Under Shifting the Balance of Power, strategic health authorities assumed responsibility for monitoring national health service trusts' compliance with the controls assurance standard on infection control.