We are actively working with the national health service to help them improve control of clostridium difficile and have made it clear that this is an important public health issue.
In December 2005, the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer reminded the NHS of the importance of this infection, listed the key actions for its control and highlighted the guidance available. The current guidance is on the Health Protection Agency website at www.hp.org.uk and we have commissioned the HPA to review and update this national guidance. A new high impact intervention protocol on clostridium difficile disease was added to “Saving lives: a delivery programme to reduce healthcare associated infections including MRSA” in June 2006, and this tool will help the NHS reduce the number of infections. In addition, we will be introducing quarterly publication of mandatory clostridium difficile surveillance data as more rapid feedback of results will help performance.
However, controlling this infection requires appropriate management and clinical governance systems. This will be addressed by the code of practice for the prevention and control of health care associated infection developed under the Health Act 2006 which was published on 1 October 2006.
A range of correspondence from the public and hon. Members on this issue has been received.