Category: North Edinburgh News

Government sets out five year plan to tackle hospital infections

RIE Simpsons

The Scottish Government has set out its commitment to controlling healthcare associated infections and containing antimicrobial resistance. The five-year strategic framework, published today, seeks to ensure the safety of patients, the public and all healthcare staff and to make hospitals and communities a safer place.

The prevention and control of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) remains an important issue for all environments where healthcare is delivered – for example, care homes, community pharmacies, and primary care – and for everyone involved in the delivery of care. 

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “Tackling antimicrobial resistance and reducing healthcare associated infections remains a key priority for this Government. Good progress has been made so far with the latest quarterly figures showing that, since 2007, MRSA rates have fallen by 90% and CDI rates for those aged 65 years and over have reduced by 88%.

“These significant reductions have only been possible due to the hard work, diligence and commitment of Scotland’s NHS staff and key stakeholders.

“Patients and the public deserve to have complete confidence in the cleanliness of Scottish hospitals and the quality of NHS services and I have made clear my expectation that all health boards must take cleanliness and infection control extremely seriously.

“Today’s publication of the 5 Year AMR/HAI Strategic Framework will inform government policy and will help key stakeholders and NHS Boards implement and deliver HAI and AMR policies consistently and reliably across the healthcare system so that we can continue to provide a culture that promotes the delivery of person-centred safe and effective care.”

The overarching aims of the Strategic Framework are:

  • Containment of AMR and prevention of HAI;
  • Advance AMR and HAI scientific knowledge & innovation;
  • Improved AMR and HAI efficiency;
  • Transparency & accountability; and,
  • Improved workforce capacity for AMR and HAI.

The Strategic Framework has been published on the Scottish Government website: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Health/Services/Preventing-Healthcare-Infections

 

Letters: Essentially yours

letter (2)

Dear Editor

Rightly so, the NHS is looked upon as a public service, an absolute essential for the vast majority of people living in the UK. It took many decades of struggle and activity against conservative opposition to get this principle established and brought into being by the Labour Party supported by the Trade Unions and the unity of the people.

As a public service the NHS is literally a lifeline: how on earth would people cope with the financial cost of private treatment? They just could not.

There are other essential services needed by everyone every day to be able to function.

First, every home need power: electricity or gas for heating and cooking. Many households cannot do both properly as it is too expensive, yet millions of pounds aer made by investors in these private companies. They should be publicly owned and the millions made used for the benefit of consumers.

The same applies to the essential industries of passenger transport;, rail, bus and tram. Millions are made by investors out of people having to use them just to get to and from work. As essential servces they too should be publicly owned.

All these issues are common to all and as necessary as the NHS. To achieve these ojectives, pressure and demand must be developed showing how the greed of the few wealthy investors affects us all.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

 

‘Think Fast. Acting Faster’: Scottish Ambulance Service film raises stroke awareness

NEW STROKE FILM HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR FAST ACTION

ambulance

The Scottish Ambulance Service has released a brand new film to coincide with World Stroke Day (29th October) to highlight the need for fast action when it comes to a suspected stroke. 15,000 people in Scotland suffer from stroke every year. Continue reading ‘Think Fast. Acting Faster’: Scottish Ambulance Service film raises stroke awareness