July 12, 2004

The Most Dangerous Place in Britain

It's not a specific place. It's any number of hospitals across the country.

When Mrs H got an infection in her C-section wound before she left the hospital, we feared the worst. We are fortunate that it healed after only 6 weeks or so. We were never told that the adjacent Special Care Baby Unit, as well as a ward on the floor below, had been closed down due to infection while she was in the maternity ward.

The rate of infections acquired in hospital is roughly the same in the UK as it is in other developed countries. Given that we have a third world health care system, perhaps that is heartening. However, the problem is the proportion of infections that are caused by a superbug (or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA]). In Britain, 44% of hospital infections are from MRSA, whilst the proportion is only 1% in the Netherlands and Denmark, 11% in Austria, and 19% in Germany.

Get a bug in an NHS hospital and you have a good chance of being very, very ill for a very long time or just dying in a very short time. It is estimated that in the UK, 100,000 people are infected with the superbug every year, resulting in 5,000 deaths.

What is the main cause of this problem? Sure, it is exacerbated by the overuse of antibiotics, but that isn't the cause. Ineffective antibiotics do not cause infections - germs do. Why are there so many germs in British hospitals? Filth. Dirt. Grime. Lack of basic hygiene. Unwashed hands.

The Government is now going to go to extra lengths to encourage staff to wash their hands and observe basic hygiene. Should this require a Government initiative? Shouldn't doctors, nurses, and other health care workers just do this instinctively? John Reid, the Health Secretary, said "I want NHS patients to demand the highest standards of hygiene and, since human contact is a major way infection spreads in hospital, to feel happy to ask staff if they’ve washed their hands." Should you have to ask a doctor if he has washed his hands?

Posted by david at July 12, 2004 05:34 PM | TrackBack
Comments

What the HELL is wrong with these doctors and nurses!!!! In a 4 hour period of brewing beer, i probably thoroughly wash my hands 6-8 times. All that so my beer doesn't get infected with wild yeast or bacteria. All that for beer! They should revoke their licenses for something as stupid and obvious as this.

Posted by: aaron at July 12, 2004 10:34 PM