Labour health spokesperson, Coun. Tracey Simspon-Laing today called on York District Hospital (YDH) Trust to publish their MRSA figures following the latest quarterly figures on MRSA ‘Bloodstream Infections' published by the Health Protection Agency.

Recent figures show that MRSA infections have fallen by 57% compared to a base level in 2003/04 when the target was set, with recent figures showing that the risk of becoming infected is at its lowest in 5 years.

Coun. Simpson-Laing said:

''It is really important that York residents and users of YDH know how well the Trust is doing both locally and compared with national progress with regard to MRSA infections and prevention. Hospital users and their families and friends need to know this. I have some concerns as when I visited the hospital over the summer with my daughter, I had to ask whether I should use the hand cleanser rather than having it pointed out. It made me wonder how many visitors still do not use the cleansers before going onto wards.

Coun. Simpson-Laing notes that YDH is not part of the 'Showcase Hospital Scheme' which will use technology and design to fight infection. She feels that YDH should be explaining why they are not involved in this scheme, and how they intend to meet the criteria for such a scheme in the future.