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MRSA screening pilots
26/03/2008
Almost one million people across Scotland are to benefit from a pilot screening programme for MRSA, it was announced today.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Grampian and NHS Western Isles will all participate in the MRSA screening programme as "Pathfinder" health boards from April this year.
The three boards together cover a population of almost one million and between them represent a diverse mix of urban, rural and island areas and include a range of different hospitals, from the smallest to large teaching hospitals.
The boards will be responsible for running a year-long programme of screening all hospital patients for MRSA, backed by £7 million of new investment in 2008-09.
If successful, the pilot programme will lead to screening programmes being introduced in every health board from 2009-10.
Making the announcement in a speech to Parliament today, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"I am delighted to be able to announce that NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Western Isles and NHS Grampian are to host the MRSA screening pilot, marking a new era of action to tackle infections in Scottish hospitals.
"The screening programme will ensure that Scotland continues to lead the way in tackling Healthcare Associated Infections like MRSA.
"The pilots will be an exhaustive test of the screening model and will ensure that any necessary adjustments can be made before the programme is rolled out across Scotland.
"I know that the fear of contracting an infection is one of the major concerns of patients going into hospital and I am confident that the screening programme will give them the reassurance they rightly expect.
"But screening is just one of a range of measures the Scottish Government is taking to tackle HAIs. We are investing a record £54 million in the third HAI action plan, which comes into force on April 1 and includes a raft of demanding targets for NHS boards. I am confident that these measures will have a real impact on driving down rates of HAI."