EFFORTS OF NHS SCOTLAND STAFF PRAISED AS HOSPITAL INFECTION RATES CONTINUE TO FALL

EFFORTS OF NHS SCOTLAND STAFF PRAISED AS HOSPITAL INFECTION RATES CONTINUE TO FALL

SNP MSP Michael Matheson has congratulated staff across the NHS in Scotland on their continuing efforts to reduce hospital infections, after the latest Scottish Government figures showed that C. Difficile infection rates have halved in the past year and that MRSA infections also continue to trend downwards.

C.diff cases fell by 48 per cent and MRSA infections by 26 per cent, compared to the same period the previous year.

Mr Matheson, who is a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee, said:

“This dramatic drop in the number hospital infections is testament both to the hard work of frontline staff in our health services and to the intense focus that the SNP government has placed on eradicating infections in our hospitals.

“To halve C. diff infection rates in the space of a year is a significant achievement.

“The key steps taken by the Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon - including significant investment in tackling infections, bringing hospital cleaning back into the public sector and establishing the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate - are paying off and making hospitals safer for patients.

“Of course, every case is a concern and efforts will continue to bring the number of infections down further still, but I know that both NHS Scotland staff and SNP policies are up to the job and that the eradication of hospital infection will remain a major priority for this government.”