October 18, 2007

3:06pm Wednesday 17th October 2007

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INFECTION due to clostridium difficile (C diff) has recurred alarmingly with the outbreak at hospitals in Kent that was unrecognised and led to probably avoidable deaths.

This germ is widespread in dust, water and in some of our and our pets' digestive systems. Any well run hospital will have a control of infection committee with representatives from medical, nursing and laboratory staff so infection cannot go unnoticed and then treatment and isolation measures will be instituted rapidly and effectively.

Several actions are needed to reduce the risk of this infection that attacks especially the old and those vulnerable because of other illnesses.

These include meticulous cleaning of patient areas and beds between occupation, control of antibiotic use and frequent hand washing with soap and water with education of all staff.

Opposition MPs understandably wish to pin some of the blame for this outbreak and the high incidence of infection in some hospitals on Government waiting list targets that may have led to rapid turnover of patients in beds allowing insufficient time for cleaning in between occupants.

One way of proving or disproving this connection would be to compare the levels of infection with the bed occupancy rates in NHS hospitals. If waiting list targets have become the top priority for a hospital then bed occupancy rates may have gone up.

Due to financial deficits there may have been cuts in nursing staff so it is in the Government's interest to look at bed occupancy rates and nurse staffing to patient ratios because if there is no relation between these and the incidence of C diff infection, the blame can only lie at the door of local hospital staff and management. If there is a relationship it must be tackled.

Last week the RSPCA held sessions in the Dowles Road Community Centre to promote the neutering and microchipping of pets.

Microchipping is vital and causes very little discomfort to the animal and then owners have the confidence that their animals can be recognised and returned home if lost.

Over 100 pets received their microchips and at least 150 owners accepted the offer of free neutering.

There have not been many votes in the House of Commons this week which has surprised me as there is much business to get through before the end of this session on November 1.

I was pleasurably surprised that several amendments to the Legal Services Bill were accepted by the Government or rendered unnecessary by helpful Government amendments and this reduced votes considerably.

Other debates have been on motions for the adjournment of the House and so do not go to division.

I am sorry for MPs with outstanding Private Members Bills as there are 52 of these listed for this Friday and it will be surprising if more than two of these get any hearing.

Obtaining a Private Members Bill is a lottery and then to achieve its passage into law looks like a miracle.