29 October 2009
The NHS in the East Midlands has saved more than £3.5 million thanks to the commitment of NHS staff and the public to infection control following a regional campaign.
The news that NHS organisations in the region have made significant savings due to a reduction in infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C diff), comes after two successful years of the regional ‘Hand In Hand, fighting infection together’ campaign and follows the national Infection Control week last week.
The regional campaign, which is run by all 28 NHS organisations in the East Midlands, raises awareness of what infection prevention means; how MRSA and Clostridium difficile are spread and the easiest way we can all prevent it – by keeping our hands clean; ensuring our hospitals are clean; careful use of antibiotics and MRSA screening prior to planned operations. The campaign has made use of various innovations including talking cardboard nurses which remind hospital visitors to wash their hands and awareness raising television and radio adverts.
Infection rates have been falling since the campaign began in December 2007 and by March 2009 the region had reduced incidents of MRSA and Clostridium difficile by 896. It costs around £4,000 to £10,000 to treat a patient with MRSA or Clostridium dfficile which means the NHS has saved more than £3.5 million.
The reduction in the number of infections has also created approximately 9,800 further days of free hospital beds to treat more patients.
Lynn Andrews, Assistant Director of Nursing for NHS East Midlands said: “This dramatic reduction in infection rates in the East Midlands could not be achieved without the help of our dedicated NHS staff and the public, who understand the important role that infection control has and that it is everyone’s responsibility. The reduction means patients have not needed to be admitted or have spent less time in hospital and that the significant savings made can be ploughed back into healthcare in the East Midlands. However, this is a continuing journey and all health organisations have on-going plans to ensure infections like MRSA and Clostridium difficile are reduced further and that high standards are maintained throughout the East Midlands.”
Health Minister Ann Keen said: “I would like to congratulate East Midlands’ health organisations on the fantastic work they have done to help drive down infection rates.
“England now has the most sophisticated monitoring system in the world, which has helped reduce MRSA infections by over 70% and C diffinfections by over 30%.
"The hard work of NHS staff, together with our strategy for reducing infection, are continuing to deliver real improvements in clean, safe care for patients.”
NHS East Midlands, the strategic health authority, is planning its third year of the Hand in Hand campaign which will be launched January 2010.
