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MRSA and the NHS

MRSA and the NHS

In the news today there is a lot about MRSA and how the infection rates are still climbing.

For me as a Mum, yet another thing to worry myself silly about.

I can not imagine how distressing it must be to go into hospital for one thing and then contract something so sinister and serious that it can kill you. And even worse something which appears to be caused by bad hygiene.

I find it interesting that we blame the spread of MRSA just on the fact that these infections have become resistant to antibiotics. Surely that means that this infection was already present and endemic in our hospitals - just that when people got an infection (whatever that transpired to be) - it was cured by antibiotics.

Before antibiotics and penicillin many people died from illnesses which would now be treated quite easily.

With all the medical advances which have been made, we should be able to keep our hospitals clean surely?

It is easy to blame lack of investment, or lack of medical staff, but if MRSA is caused by lack of hygiene and subsequent cross infection then really the fundamental cause of this is lack of cleanliness and a possible lack of accountability.

It seems to me that we have a sort of schizophrenic relationship with the NHS. On the one hand, there are people doing a sterling job. And then conversely you visit someone in hospital and you notice how the staff feel undervalued and it shows with their attitude and the "service" that the patient is receiving.

The people on the front line are often doing the best they can. But I think most of us have heard scary stories. What I think the NHS needs is good leadership. I guess years ago the leadership was in the care of medical staff. Now it seems to be in the care of civil servants and politicians who impose targets which seem now to take priority over patient care and the staff's ability to deliver.

When people don't feel listened to, or given recognition, pessimism can become contagious. No amount of money can resolve that - and I believe that is part of the complex equation which has contributed to MRSA continuing to spread.

If in Holland they can reduce the instance of MRSA to a couple of percent then there is no reason we can not either. No excuses - we just need to tackle it in a more business like way.
Perhaps what is needed is a Stuart Rose or Alan Sugar type figure, to take on the NHS.

Ultimately whether you like it or not the NHS is a business - and should not be a paralysed budget strapped institution.

Maybe all the Senior Management Teams should "work" undercover for a month at the "pit face", doing the cleaning, and caring, which fifty years ago were the bedrock of nursing.

Maybe they would then see what changes need to be made, to make the NHS a health institution which the staff would be proud to be ambassadors of.

Labels: Alan Sugar, MRSA, NHS, Stuart Rose

posted by Diana and Steve @ 08:38