Hospitals top for control of infections

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, which runs St Cross and Walsgrave, was the top large acute teaching trust in England in 2015-16.

This covered rates of all three healthcare-associated infections such as MRSA, MSSA and Clostridium difficile.

All trusts have to declare results for those three and as well as best among similar large trusts, it was second best overall.

In 2015-16, the Trust had no hospital-acquired cases of MRSA at all, and 38 cases of Clostridium difficile over the whole year, maintaining its year-on-year reduction. This was four cases below the target set by NHS England.

Chief Nursing Officer, Professor Mark Radford, said: “It’s important for our patients that they know we have a strong focus on cleanliness and preventing infections.

“Our community requires the best and I am pleased to say we have achieved very strong results.

“However, we are not complacent, and will be continuing our efforts to further reduce infections.”

Kate Prevc, Modern Matron for Infection Prevention and Control, said: “These figures are extremely welcome. They demonstrate the hard work undertaken at UHCW to make our hospitals as clean and safe as possible for our patients.

“Our performance reflects the high level of commitment that our staff and those working with us have to ensure our patients are treated in the safest environment and to the highest standards.

“While these figures are really encouraging, every case of hospital-associated infection is one too many, and we continue to work to reduce our numbers of infections.”