Crowded hospitals in Northampton could lead to superbug outbreak

10.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 23rd Oct 2007

LOCAL Liberal Democrats have warned that crowding in hospitals in Northampton is increasing the risk of an outbreak of superbug infections.

High bed occupancy rates are known to be a significant contributor to the spread of superbugs in hospitals and were mentioned in the report into the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust earlier this month. The scale of the outbreak shocked the nation. Experts have warned that a hospital where more than 85% of beds are occupied stands a much higher risk of suffering a superbug outbreak.

In Northampton General Hospital Trust the rate of occupancy is over the 85% threshold. Current figures show it is at 86%

"I am extremely concerned about the situation in Northampton," said Andrew Simpson, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary spokesperson for Northampton North constituency. "Hospitals here are operating at the superbug danger level. There is an urgent need to address this.

"One key step that could be taken is to tackle delayed transfers from hospitals. It is ridiculous that so many people are occupying beds when they are ready to leave.

"Liberal Democrats have also launched a plan to ensure hospitals are cleaned up and superbugs killed off. I believe that if the plan goes ahead, it will avoid many of the terrible deaths that were highlighted earlier this month following the report on the major outbreak in Kent."

The Liberal Democrats 'Florence Nightingale Charter' for cleaner hospitals includes:

• Urgent review of the extent of ward overcrowding

• Zero tolerance of failures of infection control

• Quicker and wider implementation for screening

• Hospital matrons in charge: promoting a culture of strict hygiene standards and infection prevention

• Strict compliance and improved dissemination of guidance on anti-biotic prescribing

• Giving the patient power to report failure in standards