I Hope Bug Watch Will Stop Patients Suffering Like John ; Victim's Partner Welcomes Release of MRSA Figures

Link: RedOrbit

      THE grieving partner of a North Wales MRSA victim hoped hospital infection rates published yesterday would help battle super bugs. Sheila Whiteside cared for long-term partner John Wardell, 76, a former theatre manager, during more than two years of his condition until he died last December. For the first time, figures for rates of serious bloodstream infections caused by bugs, including MRSA, have been published by the National Public Health Service for Wales. Welsh health chiefs hope publishing the figures will reassure the public, amidst health fears from hospital super bugs. Mr Wardell acquired the MRSA infection - which is resistant to various antibiotics - after a hip replacement operation at Abergele Hospital in 2003. Mrs Whiteside, from Rhyl, campaigned with the group MRSA Support, for a determined health service crackdown against hospital-acquired infections. She said: "I welcome it. I think that the more clarity and honesty there is in the system the better. "Every single case in these figures is a personal disaster. "It is right that they should look at each hospital trust and check that the infection rate is going down. "The more transparency there is, the more likely that patients will be able to ask sensible questions and that they will get sensible answers back."