| EXCLUSIVE |
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| Shock findings ... MRSA |
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By MICHAEL LEA
Political Correspondent
LEVELS of the MRSA superbug are 13 times higher than the Government states, new figures reveal. Shock findings from 63 NHS Trusts show 34,432 inpatients carrying the killer bacteria in 2004. That is an average of 547 cases — which would mean a total for all 175 Trusts of nearly 96,000. But the Department of Health has recorded just 7,212 cases because it only publishes instances of MRSA found in inpatients’ blood. The bacteria can also occur on skin or in the throat and be spread via an open wound or intravenous drip. Many NHS Trusts, but not all, keep data on these cases — now obtained under Freedom of Information laws. The findings will embarrass the Government, which today publishes its latest six-monthly MRSA rates. Experts believe all inpatients should be swabbed on admission to hospital. Carriers could then be isolated and precautions taken. But only a quarter of NHS Trusts have isolation facilities. Many do not even test new arrivals for the bug. Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: “We have to start testing patients when they arrive. Then you can be much clearer about where there’s a real risk.” Most MRSA detections were in Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust in London, with 1,596 recorded episodes. At East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust there were 1,551. Deaths linked to MRSA almost doubled from 487 in 1999 to 955 in 2003. Experts claim patients are 40 TIMES more likely to catch the superbug in the UK than on the continent. The Health Department said it was “committed to reducing all instances of MRSA”.
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| Chairman ... Tony Field |
CAMPAIGNERS hope to establish the first accurate data on MRSA deaths — with a book dedicated to victims.
MRSA Support wants relatives to send in details and photos of those killed by the bug.
Chairman Tony Field said: “If they hadn’t got MRSA they wouldn’t have died.”
The book is the idea of Marie Archer, whose hubby Ken died after treatment at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.
She said: “His life was cut short by a filthy hospital. I want people to realise the scale of this problem.”
- MRSA Support is on 0121 4590490 or 0121 4766583.