DEATHS FROM SUPERBUGS IN CARE HOMES MORE THAN DOUBLE

2.00.00pm GMT Tue 17th Jul 2007

The number of people dying from superbugs MRSA and Clostridium Difficile in care homes has more than doubled over two years, according to figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats.

Figures released in response to Parliamentary Questions from Norman Lamb MP show that 146 death certificates of people in care homes mentioned MRSA and 144 C Difficile in 2005 - a 109% and 153% rise respectively from 2003.

Commenting, Norman Lamb said:

"Care home residents are the forgotten victims of the rise in superbugs. This is both dangerous and wrong.

"Cases of MRSA and C Difficile in care homes have more than doubled in the last few years, yet the Government has focused all its anti-superbug measures on hospitals.

"Care home residents move in and out of hospital, taking infections with them. Any strategy to deal with hospital-acquired infections will not be effective unless care homes are also included.

"There has to be a zero tolerance approach to tackling superbugs. Hospital and care home staff should treat failure to comply with hygiene standards as a very serious issue, akin to gross misconduct."

Related Link:

Click here for the Parliamentary Question, as answered by Health Minister Ann Keen MP (link to TheyWorkForYou.com).