To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress is being made to combat healthcare associated infections in National Health Service hospitals. [HL2302]

The National Health Service has substantially reduced the number of meticillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile cases.

Latest data published by the Health Protection Agency for October to December 2008 show a reduction in MRSA bloodstream infections of 38 per cent from the corresponding quarter in 2007 and down 65 per cent from the 2003-04 quarterly average, (the baseline from which our target to halve the number of MRSA bloodstream infections is measured). The National Health Service delivered this target of halving MRSA bloodstream infections by the end of 2007-08. We are now committed to sustaining the reductions achieved so far and continuing to drive down infections still further.

There has also been a significant reduction in the number of Clostridium difficile cases, with the latest data for July to September 2008 (England) showing a 33 per cent reduction in infections in patients aged two and over compared with the same quarter in 2007.

The department's strategy for reducing healthcare-associated infections in the NHS is set out in Clean, Safe Care, which has already been placed in the Library. This outlines the comprehensive range of measures being employed, backed by £270 million additional investment per year by 2010-11 to tackle healthcare-associated infections.