HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTION

That this House recognises the trauma caused to patients and families by hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA and clostridium difficile; believes that there are examples the United Kingdom can learn from in other countries such as the Netherlands; recognises that this involves having sufficient beds to keep some empty and keep infected patients isolated from others; recognises that having medical staff travel in their work clothes also gives a risk of infection; requests that the tendency to blame patients for the spread of infection be resisted; and calls for an urgent review of whether reductions in bed numbers and planning for over 70 per cent. bed occupancy and other cost-saving measures are resulting in increased risk of hospital-acquired infection.