(2) what new (a) products and (b) techniques to control MRSA are being trialled at the Royal Free hospital; and what the estimated cost is of these trials.
The Department’s meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) improvement team provided a package of support and advice to the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, tailored to its specific needs in tackling MRSA bacteraemias. They worked closely with key hospital personnel to identify issues which should help the trust develop a practical action plan aimed at speeding up the reduction in the number of infections.
The latest information on the number of reported cases of MRSA bacteraemias was published by the Health Protection Agency on 24 July. The information for the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust is as follows:
Number April 2001 to September 2001 68 October 2001 to March 2002 54 April 2002 to September 2002 53 October 2002 to March 2003 48 April 2003 to September 2003 46 October 2003 to March 2004 52 April 2004 to September 2004 37 October 2004 to March 2005 32 April 2005 to September 2005 51 October 2005 to March 2006 42
The Department does not hold data on the proportion of patients arriving at the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust who have MRSA, or on the new products and techniques being trialled at the trust to control MRSA.