To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department has issued on the screening of patients for MRSA prior to admission into accident and emergency departments in England. (240742)

The Department’s Saving Lives guidance¹ gives general guidance on screening, referring specifically to emergency orthopaedic and trauma admissions. The guidance issued covering elective patient MRSA screening² also includes information relevant to emergency patient screening. Both guidelines have been placed in the Library.

We currently require all relevant elective admissions to be screened for MRSA by April 2009, and all emergency admissions by April 2011. Further guidance will be issued as necessary.

¹ Department of Health (2007). Saving Lives: Reducing infection, delivering clean and safe care. Screening for meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonisation.

² http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersand circulars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_086687