Health written question – answered at on 2 March 2006.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the press release issued by her Department on 6 February 2006, which 20 trusts will receive support to reduce rates of MRSA and hospital-acquired infections during 2006; who will staff the support teams visiting hospitals with high infection rates; whether these staff will be remunerated by (a) her Department, (b) NHS organisations and (c) other sources of funding; what the total cost of operating these support teams will be in (i) 2005–06 and (ii) 2006–07; what specialist support these support teams will provide to trusts with high MRSA rates; and if she will make a statement.
The Department has set up specialist, targeted support (improvement teams) to reinforce those initiatives already in place throughout the national health service, which aim to reduce health care associated infections.
The teams will work with trusts that are furthest away from their Methicillin resistant Staphlococcus aureus (MRSA) reduction target. Work has begun with three trusts that were first to volunteer to pilot the support programme—Sandwell and West Birmingham, Northumbria, and Aintree NHS Trusts. The teams will move on to support up to 17 further trusts during 2006–07. Selection will depend on progress towards the MRSA target and other factors. We will announce the additional trusts to join the programme at stages in 2006.
The teams comprise; a programme manager, programme analyst, infection control practitioner and specialist director for infection and prevention control/microbiologist. Staff will be remunerated through contractual arrangements with the Department.
The cost of the overall programme of support depends upon the level and complexity of the NHS's support requirements and these are presently being calculated—based upon the outcome of the teams' diagnostic work with the three pilot sites. The Department will have calculated the likely cost of support teams by the end of the current financial year.
The objective is to assist trusts in diagnosing those issues which prevent reduction in infections and to develop practical action plans that speed-up progress. The teams will help trusts deliver such plans and put in place management/support arrangements that facilitate sustained improvement.
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