Superbug targets are breached

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Superbug targets are breached

Published Date:
30 May 2008
By Aasma Day

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals has been put on red alert for breaching its superbug targets.

The hospital trust, which runs Royal Preston and Chorley and South Ribble hospitals, was meant to achieve a 33% reduction in MRSA cases in 2007/08 to meet Government targets.

However, the hospital trust exceeded the projected target of MRSA cases by 114%.

Between April 2007 and March 2008, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals had a target projection of 22 cases of the hospital superbug MRSA.

But the trust actually saw 47 cases of MRSA and had already exceeded its target nine months into the year.

Monitor, the organisation which regulates NHS Foundations Trusts – and has the power to remove hospital directors from their posts in some cases – has given Lancashire Teaching Hospitals a red rating for breaching their terms of authorisation with reference to infection control.

The trust is now reporting to Monitor monthly instead of quarterly and is required to make progress over the next three months.

A spokesman from Monitor said: "Meeting MRSA reduction targets presents a significant challenge.

"It is essential NHS foundation trusts boards demonstrate they understand both actual and prospective infection control issues and are taking the lead in ensuring effective action to address them.

"If an NHS foundation trust has failed to comply with the terms of its authorisation and this is significant – for example, if it consistently fails to meet required standards of care or is at financial risk – Monitor has statutory powers to intervene.

"If we do decide to intervene it is always with the aim of resolving issues as quickly as possible and in the most effective way."

Sue Reed, the trust's nursing director, said: "The trust has made significant progress in reducing the number of MRSA cases over recent years, when compared with other similar organisations.

"Government targets require us to make year on year reductions and it was very disappointing that we exceeded our target for 2007/08.

"An ongoing action plan is in place and we are in regular contact with Monitor and the Primary Care Trust regarding our performance.

"For the month of April two cases have been reported, which is within the required target."

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Superbug-targets-are-breached.4136486.jp