Clause 13 - Code of practice relating to health care associated infections

Part of Health Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 9:30 am on 20 December 2005.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Andrew Murrison Andrew Murrison Shadow Minister (Health) 9:30, 20 December 2005

I understand precisely where the hon. Gentleman is coming from. To judge from his earlier amendment, he has been discussing the matter with the organisations that represent individuals. He does not want individuals to be blamed or a blame culture to emerge, and I agree with that. However, it is individuals who provide health care, within teams, of course, but at the end of the day, individuals manage patients and, generally speaking, they do it extremely well.

We are discussing hospital-acquired and health care-associated infections and health care is provided by individuals. If there are problems or if there is good practice it is down to individuals, not to amorphous teams. I thought that I had made it clear that it would be redundant to undertake the kind of exercise suggested in, for example, a dermatology out-patients department; it would not be a very good use of resources. But in urology, the potential for health care-associated infections is quite high and it is individuals who do catheterisations, as I said at our last sitting. If there is a problem, it is down to the individual carrying it out.