asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many deaths were caused by the methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in hospitals in 2007. [HL2538]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, National Statistician and Registrar General, to Lord Taylor of Warwick, dated 19 March 2008.

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Question asking how many deaths were caused by methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in hospitals in 2007. (HL2538)

Data for 2007 are not yet available. The most recent data are for 2006 and were published in Health Statistics Quarterly 37 in February 2008. This publication is available in the Houses of Parliament Libraries.