Twenty one NHS trust putting patients at risk of superbugs

Twenty one NHS trusts are failing to meet the required infection control standards and are putting patients at risk of superbugs.

The trusts highlighted were failing to keep wards clean and failing to properly decontaminate surgical equipment.

Carried out by the new Care Quality Commission (CQC), the new findings give the CQC the authority to even close down hospitals.

Each of the trusts have been ordered to tighten their policies to tackle MRSA and C.Difficile or face huge fines. The CQC has given some trusts deadlines to take action, while others have ongoing conditions to meet.

The failing trusts included Alder Hey children’s hospital in Liverpool, Leeds General Infirmary and Barts in London, and four of the failing hospitals were supposedly elite foundation trusts.

All 388 NHS trusts had to register with the CQC and the review included patient surveys and hygiene inspections by the Healthcare Commission.

Of the 21 trusts, 13 declared non-compliance with some of the criteria required for CQC registration. Another eight trusts failed to achieve required standards on infection control on repeated occasions, had a high infection rate or were identified by the Healthcare Commission as having a substantial risk to patient safety.

Last year, 60,000 people caught a hospital infection, and two NHS trusts – Barking, Havering and Redbridge, and St George’s Mental Health trust – were both responsible for more than 100 superbug deaths each between 2006 and 2007.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust previously had 270 deaths from C.Difficile, but the trust has since improved its hygiene and infection control levels in line with the government’s standards.

Hygiene is important in any clinical environment, that's why we have a wide range of hygiene and cleaning, and infection control products.

Our selection of disposable face masks and disposable gloves help to limit the inhalation and spread of potentially dangerous bacteria between you and your patients. They're available from major brands including Handsafe and Microtouch.

We also have an extensive range of disinfectants, including surface sprays and wipes, and skin sprays and wipes. We recommend Hibscrub, Hydrex Derma, Hibisol, Guest Hand Rub and Ebiox Trionic products.

For sterilising your surgical instruments, you maybe interested in our selection of autoclaves, including Eschmann Little Sister autoclaves, Enigma autoclaves and Prestige autoclaves.