MRSA “superbug” infections in North West hospitals were down by 38 per cent for the period April to June, compared with the same quarter last year.
But figures at North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust – which runs Warrington and Halton General hospitals – were actually up.
Five bloodstream infections were reported by the Trust compared with just three last year.
For the first quarter of the year, infections were also up – six this year compared to last year.
However, they are down on 2006 when the figure for April to June was nine.
Mike Farrar, chief executive of NHS North West, congratulated staff across the region for helping to go beyond the government’s target of halving infections across England.
The latest quarterly figures on MRSA bloodstream infections from the Health Protection Agency show that nationally the number of MRSA infections has fallen by 57 per cent compared to the base level in 2003/4 when the target was set.
The figures show that the risk of becoming infected with an MRSA bacteraemia is at its lowest for five years. This has been achieved by a package of measures including an increase in matrons and hospital deep cleans, it is claimed.
Mr Farrar said: “We are taking healthcare associated infections very seriously. These figures show great progress and that is a tribute to the hard work of NHS staff coupled with the introduction of new products and technologies. We have also successfully recruited new hospital matrons to ensure standards are met.
“Patients can be reassured that the NHS is clean and safe and is getting cleaner and safer. Preventing and controlling infection is an ongoing priority for everyone in the NHS and we will continue to work hard and share successful ways to improve in this area.”
