Labour are preparing their own Bill to create an independent commissioner to lead the fight against hospital-acquired infections, claiming the Scottish Government's response to the issue has been "complacent and piecemeal".
Labour are preparing their own Bill to create an independent commissioner to lead the fight against hospital-acquired infections, claiming the Scottish Government's response to the issue has been "complacent and piecemeal".
Delegates to the party's conference in Dundee yesterday heard a promise from Shadow Health Minister Cathy Jamieson to continue to fight for the relatives of C Diff victims until they get the answers they want and deserve, saying: "Under Labour the NHS in England has succeeded in reducing the number of C Diff cases by over a third but so far Nicola Sturgeon's response has been complacent and piecemeal.
"This is too important an issue to leave to party politics. That's why we have worked with independent experts to put forward a comprehensive action plan to beat the superbugs."
She then added that Labour's proposal won cross party support in the former Scottish Parliament and that Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at Aberdeen University and a leading expert in the field, said the plan would save thousands of lives.
Ms Jamieson said that to drive forward the attack on hospital-acquired infections, there had to be a focused and sustained effort in hospitals and care homes.
She said: "I call on Nicola Sturgeon to act now and appoint an independent commissioner to oversee the drive to eradicate infection in our hospitals.
"If she doesn't do this, my colleague Jackie Baillie, who has worked tirelessly on this issue, will bring forward a Member's Bill in parliament to create such a post. 2009 marks the 80th anniversary of the publication of Alexander Fleming's paper on the discovery of penicillin.
"One of the most significant discoveries of that generation, Fleming's work led to a transformation in treatment. 2009 should be the start of a new and concerted crusade against hospital acquired infections."
Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie said after the shadow minister's speech: "The Vale of Leven Hospital, in my constituency, saw the UK's worst outbreak of C. Difficile, with 18 fatalities. The appointment of an independent commissioner would help prevent this happening in any other Scottish hospital.
"This was one of the most important recommendations in Labour's 15-point action plan for fighting hospital superbugs, which was put together with two of the UK's leading independent experts on patient safety and infection control. We need somebody who can offer independent advice, co-ordinate action and drive progress against infections. This is about ensuring the absolute right of patients to be treated in safe and clean conditions."
But the government pointed out that Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon will unveil plans for random hospital hygiene inspections on Monday, when she launches a new inspectorate. She is expected to detail how the Care Environment Inspectorate will work, including the vital role of the chief inspector.
During a visit to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, she will also find out more about NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's Cleaning Service Peer and Public Involvement Programme and meet some of those involved. This scheme recruits members of the public to scrutinise cleaning standards. Fourteen volunteers currently visit hospitals and health centres, observing cleaning and checking that nationally agreed standards are followed. They work as part of teams that include infection-control nurses and members of the on-site cleaning service.
Tory health spokesman Jackson Carlaw said of Labour's proposal: "The priority is not a new czar, the priority is cleaner hospitals. The priority is not a new commissioner, the priority is to commission a bed-by-bed electronic tracking system.
"We also need to immediately roll-out across Scotland the appointment of senior charge nurses with the authority to run their wards."
