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Concerns over hospital's rising MRSA figures
Bedford one of the worst affected in the East from April to October.
Bedford Hospital has one of the worst MRSA records in the region, new figures have revealed.
An NHS report says that so far this year the hospital has recorded ten cases of the superbug – almost double its target limit of six.
And between April and October Bedford Hospital had the highest average number of MRSA cases per 10,000 ordinary admissions.
Henry Vann, Bedford and Kempston Liberal Democrat parliamentary campaigner, believes that local accountability and screening would help reduce the prevalence of the infection.
He said: "We must take positive action to free up hospital staff from central bureaucracy so they can get on with their vital job of fighting MRSA.
"Making hospitals locally accountable and responsible to the areas they serve is a key Lib Dem policy, and allowing this level of accountability would ensure that hygiene standards are met.
"Screening of patients admitted to hospital would ensure that any infected patients could be isolated and treated before the infection is spread."
A spokesman for Bedford Hospital said other hospitals in the region have higher actual MRSA rates than Bedford.
But because they have been set different annual goals, these hospitals are not nearing their target ceiling.
Colin Ovington, director of infection prevention and control, said Bedford Hospital is doing all it can to get things back on track.
He said: "We are working extremely hard to reduce and prevent MRSA infections at Bedford Hospital.
"The NHS East of England has set us a target of having no more than 11 MRSA bacteraemia by the end of the financial year.
"Currently we have reported ten cases, although six of those were in patients believed to have been admitted with the infection.
"But clearly any MRSA infection is an infection too many, and we are absolutely committed to reducing and preventing MRSA further.
"We have introduced MRSA screening for all patients and we are also introducing new clean zones to ensure patients, visitors and staff clean their hands directly before and after patient contact."
Other measures introduced by the hospital include the installation of infection control information points, a strict dress code policy, an antibiotic prescribing policy and increased cohort and isolation facilities.
Mr Ovington added: "We are absolutely committed to eliminating all avoidable infections at Bedford Hospital, making it as safe as possible for our patients."
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Weather for Bedford
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
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