The steps being taken to reduce the incidents of health care associated infections are summarised in the written ministerial statement on 9 January 2008, Official Report, columns 9-10WS, that accompanies the launch of a new comprehensive strategy, ‘Clean, Safe Care: Reducing infections and saving lives’ to tackle health care associated infections and improve cleanliness in the national health service. A copy is available in the Library.
The strategy draws together recent initiatives and details new areas where the NHS should invest Government funding of £270 million per year by 2010-11. It also sets out where there are new national expectations and requirements, for example about the new national target for Clostridium difficile and the requirements for the deep cleaning every hospital by March 2008. It also outlines areas, such as investment in infection control nurses, pharmacists and isolation nurses, that NHS organisations should consider when developing their local plans.