Kennedy says abolish targets to aid MRSA fight

Link: Evening Star.

Meanwhile, in a letter to the family of Luke Day, who died at Ipswich Hospital from septicaemia caused by meticillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at just 36-hours-old, Mr Kennedy outlined the views of his party and their proposals to fight hospital superbugs. Mr Kennedy offered Luke's parents, Glynis Day, 18, and Kevin Fenton, 24, his condolences after they wrote to him asking for his party's views on how to prevent further tragedies. He wrote: "I agree with your comments about the need for urgent action to tackle MRSA and other hospital acquired infections. "The Liberal Democrats believe the key to combating MRSA is to free the NHS from the constraints of government imposed political targets.

Comments

[Elaine Towler]

After a mastectomy in 1998 I had reconstructive surgery in Aug 2000 at which point I contracted MRSA at George Eliot Hosp Nuneaton. After 7 weeks intensive barrier nursing, 2 further operations, the loss of 66% of the reconstruction, and further District nursing until the following March including psycholigal help, I still am emotionally scarred by the effects of this dreadful infection. I moved to France in 2002 and have had surgery twice in this country to correct the mess that had been reeked in the UK. Their approach seems to be much more structured than the UK and "fuss free" with scheduled visiting hours and, in the hospital I attended (CHU Hopital Sud Rennes), only 2 persons per room with own facitilites. At each visit which necessitated contact by the Dr's or Nurses they followed the procedure of cleanliness.
In the UK, although I was MRSA diagnosed the Consultant Plastic Surgeon actually used his pen to lift my breast and evaluate the site, did not wash his hands before or after the procedure, and subsequently went on to another patient in the Orthopaedic ward.I had 3 operations whilst in this hospital 1st for the re-construction, 2nd for de-bridement of the wound after 2 weeks, (a huge abcess had occured in the wound) and the 3rd for a skin graft to assist the healing. For about 4 weeks, and 24 hrs a day, I was placed on a pump used to take away all the pus and slough which was obviosly MRSA infected.
At my third operation for skin grafting of the breast I informed the operating theatre staff that I was MRSA positive, as I hadn't heard anyone mention it. All Hell broke lose as the ward had failed to inform them, immediately all paperwork was changed and the Venflows which would administer the anaesthetic was changed to another colour (from green to purple if I remember correctly)obviously the procedure had broken down again. My husband had created and plasticised posters on our home comupter to alert the MRSA, Barrier Nursing to nursing staff for my room and we complained to the Sister in Charge with reference to the innappropriate procedure by the Consultants. Only then did we notice any change in the policies , but for me it was too late and years of physical and emotional trauma have ensued. I am now recovering following my second operation here in France and although the hospitals do have a problem with the MRSA bug they seem to be much more pro-active rather than re-active.
On the Richard and Judy Show this week we saw a man who had formulated a lotion which seemed to protect the area of the operation site against the MRSA infection, which is to be available in Asda from this weekend. Have you any thoughts regarding this, I would be interested to know. Thank you for the updates, although still traumatised by the thought of the MRSA I am interested in following all the stories
Elaine Towler Mrs