Lack of antibiotics in NHS

The NHS faces a “ticking time bomb” over the lack of modern antibiotics in the face of increasing resistance to infections, scientists and medical experts argue. They believe that urgent action is needed to accelerate the approved licensing process for new antibiotics...<<Read More>>

Increased life expectancy for people with HIV

People with HIV have a life expectancy 15 years longer than in 1996, due to improved, early treatment and more effective drugs, according to research by the University of Bristol’s School of Social and Community Medicine. Researchers estimated the life expectancy of people with HIV...<<Read More>>

NHS to track more infections

Health secretary Andrew Lansley has announced that patients are to be given more information around the number of healthcare associated infections at hospitals. This will mean that hospitals will to report on infections, such as Meticillin Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus (MSSA) and E. coli...<<Read More>>

HEI releases inspection report on Southern General Hospital, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

The Healthcare Environment Inspectorate has published its report relating to an inspection visits to Southern General Hospital, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on the 8th and 9th March 2010. HEI has been set up to help reduce healthcare associated infection risk to patients through...<<Read More>>

Crackdown on cleanliness and infections

A new hospital regulator with powers to impose fines and close down entire wards in hospitals that do not meet hygiene requirements will be introduced and hospitals across England will undergo an aggressive programme of intensive deep cleaning...

HCAI-an epic battle

Over the past two decades, healthcare associated infection (HCAI) has emerged as a significant threat to patient safety. The financial and personal costs of HCAI in terms of the economic consequences to the National Health Service...

Healthcare associated infection: what else can the NHS do?

In May 2006, five months before the introduction of the government’s hygiene code, the Commission undertook a voluntary survey of acute NHS trusts to bring together information on how trusts were dealing with prevention and control of infection...

Healthcare Commission issues first ever improvement notice over infection control

The Healthcare Commission has issued Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust with an improvement notice, ordering immediate changes to its infection control practices...

How clean is your house?

Hospital hygiene is in the news yet again. Health secretary Alan Johnson’s announcement in September shows how seriously the government is taking it: deep-cleaning, new control and reporting mechanisms and even a new regulator. It is an all-pervasive challenge, and one that...

How clean is your kitchen?

Almost half of all hospitals kitchens and/or canteens in England could be failing to meet cleanliness and hygiene standards, according to a nationwide survey by the Liberal Democrats...

MRSA bloodstream infections down but c difficile figures up

In January 2007, the agency started publishing quarterly surveillance figures on healthcare associated infection to help hospitals improve the responsiveness of their efforts to reduce infections...

New ways of tackling HCAI

The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital is an NHS foundation trust serving a local population of around 1 million people, with patients attending from further away for some specialised services...

Significant failings in infection control at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

The Healthcare Commission has issued recommendations for national action and sent a message to all NHS trusts that boards must provide strong leadership in preventing and managing infection. This follows publication of a report detailing significant failings in infection control at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust...

The war on HCAI

Healthcare associated infections have added to the daily challenges that hospital staff face...