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22 Mar 2005 : Column 751W—continued

Healthcare-acquired Infections

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) guidance and (b) circulars were issued (i) between 1987 and 1997 and (ii) 1997 and 2005 on the control of healthcare-acquired infections; and what (A) ministerial statements and (B) press notices on the subject were issued between 1997 and 2005. [220087]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 9 March 2005]: The table shows the guidance and circulars relating to healthcare associated infection and the linked topic of cleanliness issued between 1987 and 2005. The second table shows press releases on the same subject issued between 1997 and 2005. There were no ministerial statements to the House on these subjects during the time period stated.
 
22 Mar 2005 : Column 752W
 

Circulars and guidance

Date	Subject
February 2005	Suggested framework for annual reports of Directors of infection prevention and control published on Department's website.
7 December 2004	Revised Guidance on Contracting for Cleaning (including National specifications for cleanliness) (previously National Standards of Cleanliness)".
19 October 2004	Matron's Charter; An Action plan for Cleaner Hospitals"
8 October 2004	Audit Tools for Monitoring Infection Control Standards 2004: a publication produced by ICNA working in partnership with DH
22 July 2004	Letter from NHS Chief Executive stressing the importance of infection control.
12 July 2004	Towards Cleaner Hospitals and Lower rates of infection"
24 May 2004	Letter giving suggested competencies for Directors of Infection Prevention and Control.
5 December 2003	Winning Ways: reducing healthcare associated infection in England"
June 2003	Infection control: Prevention of healthcare-associated infection in primary and community care".
9 June 2003	Chief Medical Officer's (CMO) letter-PL CMO (2003) 4 Surveillance of healthcare associated infections.
9 June 2003	CMO letter—PL CMO (2003) 4 Hospital Pharmacy initiative for promoting prudent use of antibiotics in hospitals.
10 January 2002	Getting Ahead of The Curve: a strategy for combating infectious diseases (including other aspects of health promotion)"
2001	National Standards of Cleanliness (Revised 2003) (Revised and renamed 2004)"
2001	Infection Control in the Built Environment (revised 2002)"
18 January 2001	The National Evidence-based Guidelines for Preventing Healthcare Associated Infections" (also known as the 'epic' guidelines).
2000	Standards for Environmental Cleanliness in Hospitals"—Guidance developed by ADM and ICNA and published in conjunction with NHS Estates.
11 February 2000	Health Service Circular—HSC (2000) 02 The management and control of hospital infection: action for the NHS for the management and control of infection in hospitals in England.
13 August 1999	Health Service Circular—HSC (1999) 179 Controls assurance in infection control: decontamination of medical devices.
5 March 1999	Health Service Circular—HSC 1999/049 Resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents action for the NHS following the Government's response to the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee report Resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents"
1998	Hospital acquired infection: Information for chief executives, why you need to be interested.
March 1996	Guidelines on the control of infection in residential and nursing homes.
March 1996	MRSA what nursing and residential homes need to know Department's leaflet"
21 April 1995	Health Service Guidance—HSG (1995) 18.

 
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Hospital laundry arrangements for used and infected linen

7 March 1995	Health Service Guidance—HSG (1995) 10 Hospital Infection Control-Guidance on the control of infection in hospitals, prepared by the Hospital Infection Working Group of the Department of Health and PHLS (also known as the 'Cooke report')"
1993	CDO letter PL CDO (1993) 3 Cross Infection Control
1991	CMO letter PL CMO (1991) 18 Detection of Hospital Infection
1988	Health Circular HC (1988) 33 Health services management: hospital infection control
1988	DHSS: Health Service Catering Manual : Hygiene (1988) 3rd edition giving guidance to assist health authorities achieve and maintain safe standards of practice, including cleaning and maintenance, of services and service areas and equipment and food handling

Press releases

Date	Subject
7 March 2005	MRSA cases lowest ever recorded as NHS actions begin to take effect
7 March 2005	Reid considering legislation on health hygiene in hospitals, nursing homes and care homes
28 February 2005	Cleaners, Nurses and Doctors make improvements on Think Clean Day
4 February 2005	Review panel makes progress on helping the NHS to fight MRSA
20 January 2005	Chief Nursing Officer says hospitals must spread best practice on reducing MRSA
21 December 2004	Government hits target of housekeepers half of all NHS hospitals
15 December 2004	Top international scientists join health secretary in fighting infection : John Reid challenges scientists translate research into practical measures against MRSA
7 December 2004	New model cleaning contract will help improve standards
1 December 2004	First results from rapid review panel in battle on MRSA
5 November 2004	Blood borne MRSA infection rates to be halved by 2008
4 November 2004	Infection control training for over one million NHS staff: new Chief Nurse says all staff must play their part in fight against MRSA
15 October 2004	NHS steps up the fight against hospital infections
19 October 2004	Hospital cleanliness a top priority for new top nurse
September 2004	Chief Nursing Officer's (CNO) Bulletin: Matrons make their mark, Clean hands equal clean wards, Hygiene checklist for nurses
14 July 2004	New MRSA figures published
12 July 2004	New action for cleaner, safer hospitals: Reid sets out plans to boost cleanliness and reduce infection rates
July/August 2004	CNO Bulletin: Keeping hospitals clean and safe
9 February 2004	Health Minister urges Accident and Emergency (Accident and Emergency) matrons to claim their £10,000
5 December 2003	Drive to tackle hospital infections
13 August 2003	Latest results for hospital food and cleanliness: no red hospitals found
7 April 2003	Modern Matrons get £2 million fund to improve Accident and Emergency
9 June 2003	CMO to step up fight against hospital infections: £12 million for hospital pharmacists and central monitoring
19 March 2002	Cash bonuses for porters, cleaners and caretakers if they meet targets at work
8 February 2002	Lord Hunt welcomes report into rates of MRSA hospital infection by NHS trust
31 October 2001	Hospitals shine in latest cleanliness checks: WRVS invited on board to keep standards high
10 October 2001	Maternity units receive £100 million to modernise and improve facilities
31 July 2001	Empowering nurses and slashing red tape means better care and cleaner wards for patients
23 July 2001	Health Minster Lord Philip Hunt announces new advisory committee on antibiotic resistance
10 April 2001	Cleanliness standards in hospital are rising: cleaner hospitals programme a clear success"
4 April 2001	Heath Secretary brings back Matron to the Health Service
17 January 2001	Ward sister have greater control over cleaning standards: extra £30 million to drive up standards as part of biggest ever clean-up campaign
16 October 2000	All hospitals to monitor hospital acquired infection
26 September 2000	Improving the ward environment for patients: cleanest hospitals to act as models for others
31 July 2000	New NHS Hospital clean-up" to improve patients' experience: extra £31 million investment for improving hospital cleanliness
12 June 2000	Next steps in tackling hospital infections announced: Denham to publish Government's Antimicrobial Strategy and set out plans for NHS to publish infection data
12 May 2000	Raising standards in NHS Wards
22 November 1999	New framework for managing hospital acquired infection: infection control part of a new range of standards for the NHS (Controls Assurance)
17 December 1998	Government Publishes Response To House Of Lords Report On Resistance To Antibiotics And Other Microbial Agents
3 September 1998	Report On Impact Of Clinical Prescribing On Antimicrobial Resistance Published
23 April 1998	Frank Dobson Welcomes Lords Report On Resistance To Antimicrobial Agents
1997	Tessa Jowell responds to PHLS study into hospital acquired infection
1991	Stephen Dorrell stresses government's commitment to a Cleaner, Greener NHS
1990	NHS hospital receives national clean kitchen award: The Victoria Hospital in Blackpool won the major award

 
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Between 1987 and 1997, cleanliness conditions in individual hospitals were the responsibility of the national health service trust to which the hospital belonged, and needed to comply with the Patient's Charter.

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