HOSPITAL bosses could be slapped with a fine over failures to prevent the outbreak of infections on the wards at the Royal London. Heavy penalties could be imposed if they don’t do more to prevent outbreaks, the health watchdog warned
HOSPITAL bosses could be slapped with a fine over failures to prevent the outbreak of infections on the wards in London’s East End.
Heavy penalties could be imposed on the Royal London if they don’t do more to prevent outbreaks, the health watchdog warned today.
The hospital’s governing NHS trust has been given until the end of May by the new Care Quality Commission to beef up ways it controls the spread of MRSA and C.Difficile.
Otherwise the Commission will use enforcement action which could include a fine.
The shot across the bows follows examination of hundreds of NHS trusts up and down the country.
NEEDS MONITORING
Bart’s and The London Trust, which also runs St Bartholemew’s in the City and the London Chest at Bethnal Green as well as the Royal London in Whitechapel, is one of only 21 NHS bodies that the Commission says need to be monitored more closely.
From this month all patients admitted will be screened for MRSA first, the trust told the East London Advertiser. Patients and visitors are also being urged to use the alcohol hand gel.
“We are confident we will be able to demonstrate this to the Commission’s satisfaction by the May 31 deadline,” said a spokesman.
“We have already made progress towards reducing infections with the number of MRSA incidents down 31 per cent since last year and C.diff infections down 38 per cent.”
MAY 31 DEADLINE
Around 338 trusts were asked to declare whether they were complying with the infection control regulations before they were able to register with the new Commission this week.
Barts & The London was registered with the condition that it must demonstrate by the May 31 deadline the robust supervision of all relevant staff and contractors on infection prevention and control.
The Commission has powers to give public warnings, issue fines or in extreme cases even close a hospital if it thinks patients’ safety is at risk.
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