GOVERNMENT ADMITS MRSA PROBLEM IN CARE HOMES

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 24th Jul 2007

Government Health Minister, Ann Keen MP, has admitted in response to a parliamentary question from Leeds MP Greg Mulholland that incidences of infections such as MRSA and C Difficile in care homes are a serious problem.

Commenting Mr Mulholland said:

"I am pleased that the Minister recognised the seriousness of this problem. "Cases of MRSA and C Difficile infections in Care Homes have more than doubled in the last few years, and it is clear that standards must improve dramatically.

"Further, care home residents move in and out of hospital, taking infections with them. Any strategy to deal with hospital-acquired infections will not be effective unless care homes are also included. "There has to serious and dedicated approach to tackling superbugs wherever they occur, and those in care homes risk becoming the forgotten victims."