Overcrowding and understaffing in the UK healthcare system are contributing to the spread of "superbugs".
A report from the British Medical Association's Board of Science, says the war on healthcare associated infections (HCAIS) cannot be won, unless patient safety is put ahead of political targets.
"Tackling healthcare associated infections through effective policy action", released today, says that overcrowding and understaffing impacts adversely on infection control practices, including decreased hand hygiene, increased movement of staff and patients, and worse staff to patient ratios. These problems can only be addressed, according to the report, by a strong governmental committment to focus on long-term policies that tackle patient throughput and high bed occupancy.
Short term solutions such as using alcohol gel, adhering to a dress code and deep cleansing of hospitals must be supplemented with sustainable evidence-based improvements that will protect more patients in the future, says the report. It adds that without a change in direction, the risk to patients caused by HCAIs and the burden on the health service are set to continue.
Dr Jonathan Fielden, Chairman of the BMA’s Consultants’ Committee and a consultant in intensive care said: “Whilst we must congratulate NHS staff on their successful efforts to reduce HCAIs it is time to introduce longer-term solutions that are integrated and evidence-based. It’s not enough for politicians to announce new initiatives that are just soundbites. Genuine patient safety comes from embedding long-term strategies to tackle HCAIs.
"Hygiene, hand-washing and antibiotic policies, have extremely important roles to play but if we want to reduce the spread of infections we must put safety in front of political targets. With many hospitals already working at full capacity, this will only get more pressurised as winter arrives. The pressure to turn around patients too quickly and the lack of adequate isolation facilities create critical challenges to maintaining high quality patient care. We want safe, timely care and treatment, not just fast care.”
The BMA’s Head of Science and Ethics, Dr Vivienne Nathanson, commented that: “With an ageing population and advances in medical technology and treatments, more patients are being treated than ever before and many are increasingly vulnerable to infection. Infection control is the responsibility of all, from the highest level of hospital organisation and management, to healthcare professionals, patients and visitors.”