Pat's Note: I would have thought it was fairly obvious that the
figures for both MRSA and C.Diff are highly unreliable and that both
diseases are under reported.

If they won't report the result of testing British pigs for MRSA, what
do you expect?

"we can no longer believe anything this Government says in respect to
Healthcare Infection"

http://www.politics.co.uk/opinion-formers/press-releases/opinion-former-index/health/mrsa-action-uk-how-truthful-are-figures-mrsa-$1236519$1220655.htm

Friday, 15 Aug 2008 09:19 

MRSA Action UK: How truthful are the figures for MRSA 

Close scrutiny of the MRSA figures released by the Health Protection
Agency last month lead MRSA Action UK to the conclusion that still
more effort is needed in the focus on patient safety. We have seen in
the paper this week the story of the lady who died with MRSA who was
not counted in the figures. The sad fact is that this lady and many
others like her will have passed away with a wound infection, which
are not accounted for in the Government’s statistics. In many cases
patients may be dying and the blood not tested, we cannot be certain
that the reporting is accurate or certainly in this lady’s case,
honest. The hospital spokesman may say that the figures were correct,
but he didn’t say that the hospital is not MRSA free, as was
previously reported. Zero cases of MRSA should mean that, it is
misleading to say zero when there are still people dying with wound
infections. 

The Health Protection Agency MRSA figures released on the 17th July
2008 have raised issues that have not been reported widely. Our
findings are shocking, contrary to Health Secretary Alan Johnson’s
statement that we are within touching distance of reaching the 50%
reduction in MRSA bacteraemia's set by John Reid on 5th November 2004,
we find that 

- The actual reduction is 36.25% and not almost 50% proclaimed by the
Government 

- The Total number of MRSA bacteraemia's for 2007/08 is 4438 which is
588 more than the Government target of 3850 

- Of the 170 NHS Trusts in England and Wales 63.5% failed to achieve a
50% reduction in their MRSA bacteraemia's by March this year compared
to 2004 figures. 

- An incredible 17 of the NHS Trusts in England and Wales had more
MRSA bacteraemia's by March 2008 than they had in March 2004. This is
equivalent to 10% of the NHS Trusts. 

- 22 NHS Trusts in England and Wales made less than 10% improvements
in their MRSA bacteraemia's between March 2004 and March 2008. This is
equivalent to 13% of NHS Trusts. 

- 36 NHS Trusts missed their 50% reduction target of MRSA
bacteraemia's by 10 or more cases of MRSA bacteraemias. This is
equivalent to 21% of the NHS Trusts. 

- 15 NHS Trusts missed their 50% reduction target of MRSA
bacteraemia's by 19 or more cases of MRSA bacteraemias. This is
equivalent to 9% of the NHS Trusts 

- 8 NHS Trusts missed their MRSA reduction target of MRSA
bacteraemia's by 20 or more case of MRSA bacteraemias. This is
equivalent to 5% of NHS Trusts 

- A staggering 68 NHS Trusts who had the highest number of MRSA
bacteraemias in 2004 have failed to achieve the 50% reduction. This is
equivalent to 40% of NHS Trusts. 

- 65% of NHS Foundation Trusts failed to meet the 50% reduction in
MRSA bacteraemias / 5 NHS Foundation Trusts had higher rates of MRSA
in 2008 than in 2004 by as much as 13 cases 

On a regional basis the worst performing Strategic Health Authorities
are: 

- North East 100% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in MRSA
bacteraemias / 1 NHS Trust with higher rates of MRSA in 2008 than in
2004 

- North West 79% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in MRSA
bacteraemias / 5 NHS Trust with higher rates of MRSA in 2008 than in
2004 

- South West 77% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in MRSA
bacteraemias / 1 NHS Trust with higher rates of MRSA in 2008 than in
2004 

- Yorkshire 73% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in MRSA bacteraemias
/ 3 NHS Trust with higher rates of MRSA in 2008 than in 2004 

- East Midlands 62.5% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in MRSA
bacteraemias 

- South East 58% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in MRSA
bacteraemias / 4 NHS Trust with higher rates of MRSA in 2008 than in
2004 

- East of England 55% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in MRSA
bactereaemias 

- West Midlands 52% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in MRSA
bactereaemias / 1 NHS Trust with higher rates of MRSA in 2008 than in
2004 

- London 45% failed to achieve a 50% reduction in MRSA bacteraemias /
2 NHS Trust with higher rates of MRSA in 2008 than in 2004 

Our Charity was dismayed yet not surprised by the Health Secretary’s
comments following the release of the latest figures on the 17th July.
However we feel that he and this Government have been more than
economical with the truth regarding MRSA in our hospitals. We are
reminded of what the Health Secretary and the Prime Minister promised
at the last Labour Part Conference. The Prime Minister said that; 

“I stand for a Britain where public services exist for the patient,
the pupil, the people who are to be served, but we need to be honest:
today the rising aspirations of the British people summon us to set a
new direction. And we now have to make big practical changes to set a
new standard of service. MRSA and C-Difficile are this century's
hospital diseases which every modern country is now having to root
out. And to make sure every hospital is clean and safe, following best
practice around the world”. 

Our Charity would ask the question when will that be? 

Alan Johnson the Health Secretary said that; 

“Too many patients feel insecure in hospital because of their fear of
infection. Hospital-acquired infections are a global problem. We're
making real progress against MRSA but the war against another
infection, C-difficile, must be intensified. 

Our figures show that patients have every right to feel insecure! 

MRSA Action UK after analysing these figures has come to the
conclusion that we can no longer believe anything this Government says
in respect to Healthcare Infections and that going into hospital is
now a lottery for patients on hospitals that have done well in
reducing their infection rates, and those that have not. 

Our analysis of the figures is a damming indictment on this
Government’s performance to deliver on the promise of safer hospitals
for patients to be treated in. Of the 17 hospitals with higher cases
of MRSA bacteraemias in 2008 compared to 2004, how many have been
given improvement notices because of their failure to even be able to
reduce MRSA in their hospitals? 

Our figures speak for themselves on the Government’s claim to be
within touching distance of achieving the 50% reduction in MRSA in our
hospitals. With 55,393 cases of Clostridium difficile which are now
showing community acquired outbreaks we believe its time for openness.


Derek Butler 

Chair 

MRSA Action UK 

-- 
Regards
Pat Gardiner
Release the results of testing British pigs for MRSA and C.Diff now!
www.go-self-sufficient.com  and http://animal-epidemics.blogspot.com/