On 22 June 2010 the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon unveiled new technological initiatives aiming to further reduce hospital infections.  

Improvements to infection control and bed management Information Technology (IT) systems are to be rolled out across Scotland, allowing hospitals to better monitor patients with infections, reducing the risk of virus spread. Moreover, a new, more stringent target for tackling Clostridium difficile (C.difficile) is also being introduced.

Health boards across Scotland are now being asked to reduce the rates of the infection by at least 50 % among the patients aged over 65 years old by the end of March 2011. The move follows recent statistics from Health Protection Scotland, showing that the vast majority of boards are well on their way towards meeting the previous target of 30 % by the end of March 2011. Rolling out the system across Scotland will cost £1.5 million (approx. €1.8 million).

Ms. Sturgeon said: "I have repeatedly made clear that tackling hospital infections is my top priority. That's why we have put in place a package of measures designed to crackdown on infections. These measures have seen C.diff cases drop to their lowest since surveillance began. But we're determined to do more, as today's announcement demonstrates."

She added: "Building on the success we have already achieved, all boards will now have a more challenging C.diff target to meet, as we bid to halve C.diff infection rates by next March [2011]. This tough target will stretch health boards, but I believe it is achievable. Reducing the misery caused by C.diff justifies the effort."

"Successful pilots have shown that improvements to infection control and bed management IT systems can help manage the fight against infection, and these improvements will be rolled out across Scotland. Using the latest IT systems and ensuring these are fully integrated will allow health boards to better manage their beds to reduce this risk of infections spreading", she pointed out.  

Finally, she concluded: "I am confident that these measures will contribute to further reduced infection rates which is good news for patients and their families throughout Scotland."

The improvements to infection control and bed management IT systems have been piloted in the following four health boards areas: Lothian, Fife, Tayside and Grampian. An evaluation report of the pilot has demonstrated that upgraded and integrated bed management and infection control IT systems can reduce infections.

(...)

Note: Crown copyright material reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO.

Further information:

• Official Press Release - Scottish Government
• Evaluation Report on Infection Control and Bed Management IT Systems - NHS Scotland
• Health Protection Scotland