BBC Home
Explore the BBC
BBC News
Launch consoleBBC NEWS CHANNEL
Last Updated: Friday, 23 November 2007, 15:39 GMT
MPs seek bug trust reassurances
Maidstone Hospital
A "small outbreak" of 11 C.diff cases was dealt with this month
Two MPs have met the new chairman of the NHS trust at the centre of a fatal superbug outbreak to discuss progress.

Ninety people died from the clostridium difficile infection at three hospitals run by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust between 2005 and 2006.

The trust said it had also dealt with a small outbreak of 11 cases this month.

Greg Clark, the MP for Tunbridge Wells, and Tonbridge and Malling MP Sir John Stanley said they wanted reassurance that standards had improved.

The two MPs were meeting trust chairman George Jenkins.

Issues being discussed included infection control, the trust's board, management appointments, and the building of the £225m Pembury Hospital.

'Zero tolerance'

The MPs also met Dr Sara Mumford, the new infection prevention and control director at the trust.

Mr Clark said: "It's a good step that they now have in place a director of infection control - I thought she seemed impressive.

"She's an experienced doctor. She's experienced in infection control, and she reassured us that the outbreak has been brought under control."

Mr Clark said there were "steps still to be taken", such as replacing old curtains dividing beds with disposable paper curtains.

On Thursday, Dr Mumford said cleanliness had improved "enormously".

She also said she wanted to "build on the excellent work already done in bringing the [Maidstone] hospital up to a much higher standard than it was".

SEE ALSO
New bug boss tackling infections
22 Nov 07 |  Kent
NHS bug trust board members leave
13 Nov 07 |  Kent
Bug trust 'should be disbanded'
13 Nov 07 |  Kent
Calls for bug trust hygiene talks
12 Nov 07 |  Kent
Bug-hospital pay-off 'unlawful'
01 Nov 07 |  Kent
Bug trust hospitals 'cleaning up'
26 Oct 07 |  Kent
Hospital bug deaths 'scandalous'
11 Oct 07 |  Health

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



FEATURES, VIEWS, ANALYSIS
Has China's housing bubble burst?
How the world's oldest clove tree defied an empire
Why Royal Ballet principal Sergei Polunin quit

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific