By: Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor, The Independent
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Fines of up to £50,000 will be imposed on NHS trusts which breach hygiene regulations in a crackdown on hospital infections.
Inspectors will have powers to prosecute dirty hospitals and clinics, and impose sanctions ranging from fixed penalty fines to closure of wards, clinics or services.
The fresh measures are part of the Government’s drive to protect patients against superbugs, including MRSA and Clostridium difficile.
Public anxiety has been increased by incidents such as the 90 deaths attributed to C. difficile at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust over two and half years. The deaths of a further 255 patients were judged to have been hastened by the bug.
