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Improvements at Vale of Leven Hospital
10/02/2009
'Rapid and very significant progress' has been made in implementing improvements at Alexandria's Vale of Leven Hospital, according to an independent review team.
The report, published today, is a follow-up from the original independent review into procedures at the Vale of Leven after 55 patients developed Clostridium difficile and 18 people died.
Key findings of the report include:
- Infection control procedures have been improved and implemented
- Hospital refurbishment is on track for completion in May
- NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has systematically addressed recommendations which have been monitored by monthly progress reports
- Antimicrobial policy has been implemented and antibiotic use has decreased
- Communication about infection control among staff, patients and relatives has been improved
- All Senior Charge Nurses are taking part in a national development programme.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"Improving infection prevention and control is crucially important in our hospitals, both to reduce infections such as MRSA and C.diff and increase patient confidence in the healthcare system.
"The original report into what happened at the Vale of Leven highlighted a number of important shortcomings which required to be addressed urgently. This is happening not just in Greater Glasgow and Clyde but throughout the NHS in Scotland.
"While it is heartening that the review team found that such significant improvements have already been made at the Vale of Leven, it is vital that we continue to build on this. I expect health boards across the country to learn the lessons of what happened at the Vale.
"We are committed to doing all we can to tackle 'superbugs' like MRSA and C.diff. A raft of co-ordinated measures has already been introduced with more to follow over coming months. It's encouraging that the latest statistics give cause for optimism that our efforts are now reaping rewards."
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon commissioned an independent review of procedures at the Vale of Leven Hospital after 55 patients developed C.diff, 18 or whom died.
The report's eight recommendations included a requirement to carry out a follow-up to audit implementation. Following publication of the original report, an action plan was established - being taken forward by the HAI Task Force - to implement all recommendations across Scotland.
The Independent Review Team members were: Cairns Smith, Professor of Public Health, University of Aberdeen May Henry, Nurse Director, NHS National Services Scotland Gabby Phillips, Consultant Microbiologist, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee Jane Walker, Nurse Advisor, seconded from NHS Tayside Walter Scullion, Vale of Leven patient Michelle Stewart, patient's relative and representative of Families' C diff Justice Group.
The Scottish Government is investing £54 million (over three years) in a range of initiatives designed to tackle HAIs. These include a national MRSA screening programme, prudent prescribing of antibiotics, 100 per cent single room provision in all new hospitals, zero tolerance to non hand hygiene compliance and a Care Environment Inspectorate to carry out unannounced inspections of hospitals.
In addition, last month, Ms Sturgeon launched an HAI reporting template that will give the public access to data on infection rates at individual hospitals for the first time.
The latest HAI statistics, published by Health Protection Scotland in January, showed MRSA rates were at their lowest level since monitoring began in 2003 and C.diff levels were down 17 per cent on the previous quarter and two per cent on the same quarter last year.