MRSA Action UK’s dismay at the government’s continued failings to inform the public of the need to protect themselves from Swine Flu and other infectious illnesses that have become a modern day plague.
With H1N1 (Swine Flu), norovirus and the continuing threat from MRSA and Clostridium difficile in the community setting MRSA Action UK is dismayed that their calls for a public information campaign on both hand and respiratory hygiene have not been forthcoming.

Whilst there has been considerable efforts put into preventing avoidable infections in hospitals, the public are still largely unaware of the simple actions that can be taken to reduce the burden of avoidable infections in the wider community.

Resistant pathogens continue to concern many in the field of microbiology, but not all healthcare professionals are in tune with the need to inform their patients on the sensible use of antibiotics. Posters in surgeries are few and far between, workplaces, supermarket notice boards, schools and public transport could all help spread the word.

There are some NHS Hospital Trusts and Strategic Health Authorities that have taken the initiative to raise awareness, but with cuts in budgets for many this has been a lower priority, despite the fact that preventing infections is far more cost effective than trying to manage the consequences of contracting them in the first place, which can often be fatal.

The Swine Flu epidemic has served to heighten the need for information and more needs to be done to raise awareness not only of the need for those at higher risk to come forward for vaccination, but also to take the necessary precautions to help prevent and fight infections like the Swine Flu.

With cases of flu in England and Wales soaring by 45% in a week, Swine Flu reaching epidemic proportions in under-fives and 39 dead from flu, 36 from the H1N1 virus, it’s time for the government to put promised resources into a public information campaign.

The previous administration was criticised by the present Health Secretary Andrew Lansley for making promises it didn’t keep, the Labour government stepped down the resources that were earmarked for raising awareness by curtailing the “cleanyourhands” campaign and ignored the research findings that they themselves commissioned proving the need for a public information campaign. We had hoped the new administration would heed our warnings, but to date little has changed as the campaign has not come to fruition.

By Derek Butler Chair MRSA Action UK www.mrsaactionuk.net

Muslim doctors and nurses are to be allowed to opt out of strict hygiene rules introduced by the NHS to restrict the spread of MRSA hospital superbugs.

Female staff who follow the Islamic faith will be allowed to cover their arms to preserve their modesty despite earlier guidance that all staff should be “bare below the elbow”.

The Department of Health has also relaxed rules prohibiting jewellery so that Sikh members of staff can wear bangles linked with their faith, providing they are pushed up the arm while the medic treats a patient.

The Mail on Sunday reported the change had been made after female Muslims objected to being required to expose their arm below the elbow under guidance introduced by Alan Johnson when he was health secretary in 2007.

The rules were drawn up to reduce the number of patients who were falling ill, and even dying, from superbugs such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile.

Revised guidance which relaxed the requirements for some religions was published last month.

Some Muslim staff and those from other groups may be allowed to use disposable plastic over-sleeves which cover their clothes below the elbow and allow the skin to remain covered up.

Derek Butler, chairman of MRSA Action UK, said: “My worry is that allowing some medics to use disposable sleeves you compromise patient safety because unless you change the sleeves between each patient, you spread bacteria.

“Scrubbing bare arms is far more effective.”

From: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7576357/Muslim-staff-escape-NHS-hygiene-rule.html