LEEDS TEACHING HOSPITALS MISS MRSA TARGETS

5.09.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 16th Aug 2008

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust has failed to meet the target to halve the number of MRSA cases, despite Government claims to have tackled the problem, analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

Although the Government claimed to have virtually halved the rate of MRSA in hospitals by April 2008, figures show that its targets to fight the superbug were not met in 64% of hospital trusts, including Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Health and Local MP Greg Mulholland said:

"These figures show that ministers' claims of success in the fight against superbugs were premature.

"Leeds Teaching Hospital Trusts has only seen its MRSA figures reduce by around a quarter; nowhere near the 50% claimed by the Government.

"It is vital that this issue is not allowed to slide off the agenda now that the Government's deadline for tackling this problem has passed. There is clearly much work still to be done combating the spread of these devastating infections on our hospital wards."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. Leeds Teaching Hospital Trusts recorded 204 incidences of MRSA bacteria reports in 2003-4, compared with 150 in 2007-8. In November 2004, then Health Secretary John Reid pledged MRSA rates would be halved by April 2008.