Deaths connected to hospital "superbugs" have increased sharply to nearly 5,500 a year, shocking new stats disclosed yesterday.
Furthermore the Clostridium difficile germ — C.Diff — currently destroys more lives than MRSA.
It was stated on 3,807 death certificates in 2005, up 69 per cent on 2004. MRSA was a consideration in 1,629 deaths, an increase of 39 per cent.
In sum, the number who passed away per annum has gone up more than 50 per cent since 2001.
Health union Unison have said that the Office for National Statistics' document illustrated that bugs had a “deadly grip” on hospitals. However the Patients Association disclosed that other important NHS factors like reducing debts and waiting lists, limited efforts to get a handle on them.
Roger Arthur, a retired doctor whose partner Patricia passed away in 2001 after getting MRSA branded it “institutional manslaughter”.
Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is also quoted in the Sun newspaper as saying: “Labour is failing to face up to the dangers.” Health Minister Lord Hunt admitted: “It is a major challenge for the NHS and a top priority for Government.”
Two years ago, MPs promised to reduce MRSA incidences by half by 2008. Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt says that these aims will be reached - despite a "leaked memo" last month cautioning that the battle was already "lost"