Urgent re-assurances needed on Hospital Hygiene

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 18th Jun 2007

MP's call for urgent reassurances over hygiene concerns at RCHT

Reacting to the publication of data submitted to the NHS Watchdog, showing that the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust is failing to meet three quarters of hygiene standards, Cornwall's MPs have called for reassurances that the Trust will be fully compliant next year.

Commenting, Julia Goldsworthy MP said:

"RCHT has long battled with this issue and it is clear that acquired infections still remain a serious problem. With the Trust still being in millions of pounds of debt, the key issue is how the necessary improvements will be funded.

"With such financial pressures on the Trust, I am very concerned about its ability to dedicate the necessary resources to tackle this problem. The Lib Dem Parliamentary Team is seeking an urgent meeting with the Chief Executive to discuss the problems and to see how these figures may have changed since last year.

"We already know that bed occupancy is at very high levels and that this policy is being pursued in order to save the Trust money. The grim reality is that it could also be impacting on the number of patients contracting hospital acquired infections."

Matthew Taylor, MP for Truro and St Austell, added:

"For the overwhelming majority of people in Cornwall, Treliske Hospital is the only option available for acute medical care. It's essential therefore that both the financial and hygiene problems are tackled as a matter of urgency. This will require action, not only from the hospital, but support from the Secretary of State as well."