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Wednesday, 08 October 2008 |
 The SNP's Bob Doris MSP, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow has welcomed the publication today by Health Protection Scotland of the Hand Hygiene audit report which details improvements in compliance with hand hygiene guidelines in our hospitals.
Speaking outside the Parliament where he submitted a motion of support today, Bob Doris said: "It is no surprise that a report showing good progress in improving hand hygiene practices in our hospitals coincided with the publication of figures showing continues decreases in the incidence of the hospital superbugs MRSA and C.difficile.
"The Scottish Government set a hand hygiene compliance target of 90 per cent and since that has now been hit across Scotland, the target is to be shifted to a 'no tolerance' approach in a determined effort to further drive down the incidence of Hospital Acquired Infections.
"I am particularly delighted to report that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has hit the 90% mark for the first time ever.
"The fact that we are now in a position to move our target to one of ‘no tolerance’ is testimony to the determination of all of Scotland’s nursing, medical, allied and ancillary staff working hand in hand with patients and visitors to wipe out Hospital Acquired Infections. And it’s a commitment backed by a record investment of £54 million pounds."
The Glasgow MSP went on to welcome the new Glasgow Southern General Hospital where all patients will have individual rooms.
"This”" he said, "will lead to a further step change in how Scotland's NHS tackles Healthcare Associated Infections and ensure that tragic cases of deaths from HAI's become a thing of the past."
Notes:
The full wording of the motion submitted by Bob Doris MSP is as follows:
Welcome for Progress in Reducing Healthcare Associated Infections S3M-02690 - Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): That the Parliament welcomes the progress being made in reducing healthcare associated infections (HAI); notes the latest figures published by Health Protection Scotland for April to June 2008, which show Clostridium difficile cases falling by 7% and MRSA cases by 6%; recognises this as part of a trend of reduced infection rates over the last year; believes that it will build much needed confidence and trust among patients and their families; further welcomes the 22% increase in hand washing compliance to 90% in hospitals; believes that the record £54 million to tackle HAI, including a national MRSA screening programme and new robust bi-monthly progress reports from Health Protection Scotland from early 2009, will further improve the situation, and further believes that the new Glasgow Southern General Hospital, where all patients will have individual rooms, will lead to a further step-change in how Scotland’s NHS tackles HAI and ensure that tragic cases of deaths from HAI become a thing of the past.
The full reports can be accessed here.
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