To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what date each local NHS trust will (a) receive the funding to recruit two additional infection control nurses and one additional antimicrobial pharmacist and (b) be expected to have these additional staff in post. (179132)

The £5 million additional funding is allocated to primary care trusts for 2008-09 and will enable each hospital trust to employ two infection control nurses, two isolation nurses and an antimicrobial pharmacist. It is up to the trust to decide on actual staff numbers in light of their specific local hygiene and infection needs and existing staff levels.