Department of Health Stakeholder ConferenceInmarsat, Wednesday 30th July 2008

Derek Butler

Chair MRSA Action UK

http://mrsaactionuk.net

MRSA Action UKraising awareness, campaigning for safer standardssupporting sufferers, carers and dependants

Raising awareness – need to keep high profile

Headlines stating “Winning the war on superbugs and we are now only second worst in the country do not go together”

Must be a zero tolerance culture to win the war on superbugs

http://mrsaactionuk.net

Culture change needed

Strong leadership needed to drive a zero tolerance approach

Hand hygiene still a problem

Aseptic non-touch technique key

Search and Destroy, rapid testing, isolate and eradicate

http://mrsaactionuk.net

Investing in the right things

More isolation facilities

People to do the screening

Training and observation on aseptic non-touch technique, effective hand-hygiene

Prudent and appropriate use of anti-biotics

http://mrsaactionuk.net

MRSA Action UK involvement

MRSA Action UK are members of the Healthcare Commission Expert Reference Group on developing guidance for assessing healthcare providers' arrangements for meeting the requirements of The Health Act 2006, Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Health Care Associated Infections (the Hygiene Code)

Quality Working Group on Lord Darzi’s Review of the NHS

Met with the Prime Minister’s Health Adviser Given evidence to The House of Lords

http://mrsaactionuk.net

Hand hygiene, safety, strict asepsis

MRSA Action UK have taken part in research in involving patients in contributing to the safe delivery of healthcare and this has linked with the work of the National Patient Safety Agency, Cleanyourhands Campaign

We have responded to the draft NICE guidelines on surgical site infections 2008, with an emphasis on the attention to aseptic non-touch technique and achieving excellence in this important area of clinical care, we have advocated linkages with the Hygiene Code and Saving Lives

Healthcare Commission Developing the Annual Health Check over the last two years

Contributing to Action on Health Care Infections in England

http://mrsaactionuk.net

Patient information and help

We always welcome the opportunity to give a patient perspective on information about healthcare infections and have contributed to information for patients about MRSA and other healthcare infections in consultation with the Department of Health, NHS Hospital Trusts and BUPA and other patient charities, including in the USA

We have gone into workplaces as well as NHS Trusts and wish to see the campaign for understanding the importance of hand-hygiene reinforced in the Healthy Schools Programme

Promoting good practice at conference and discussing how involving the patient in their care is a vital part of helping to reduce risk and promote safety

http://mrsaactionuk.net

Thank you

Questions