Clause 13 - Code of practice relating to health care associated infections
Health Bill
9:10 am
Steve Webb (Shadow Secretary of State for Health, Health; Northavon, Liberal Democrat)
I beg to move amendment No. 100, in clause 13, page 8, line 43, leave out from second ‘infection’ to end of line 4 on page 9 and insert
‘which arises as a result of healthcare interventions, either in patients undergoing these interventions or in health care workers involved in these interventions.’.
Good morning, Mr. Illsley. I hope that we can now make fast progress because there is a lot to cover in the remaining six sittings, and we may not reach some issues if we do not do so. I shall try to be as brief as possible.
Amendment No. 100 relates to worries expressed by the Royal College of Nursing about the definition of heath care-acquired infections. I an interested in the basis for the definition under the Bill because it seems slightly at variance with that used by the Health Protection Agency, which states:
“Healthcare-associated infections are those that arise as a result of healthcare interventions, either in patients undergoing these interventions or in healthcare workers involved in these interventions. A wide variety of organisms can be transmitted in healthcare settings, causing in turn a wide range of different diseases.”