Our ref: DE00000297275
21 April 2008
Dear Mr Feasey,
Thank you for your request for information, under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, about the infection rates of independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs). Your request was received on 3 April and it has been passed to me for reply.
I can confirm that the independent healthcare sector is not required to report healthcare associated infections to the Health Protection Agency (HPA). However, the Department of Health requires Phase 2 ISTC contract providers to report meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and clostridium difficile cases to the HPA.
Work is in progress to align the independent healthcare sector with the NHS in terms of infection reporting. In 2008, independent sector providers will be able to voluntarily submit MRSA data to the HPA online. Voluntary reporting of infection rates for many independent sector providers will also appear on the NHS Choices website shortly at
www.nhs.uk
.
However, the Department holds a limited amount of information about infection rates in ISTC facilities. In respect of Wave 1 centres, no data is held on infection rates. Data is routinely collected in respect of infection rates for Phase 2 centres. The table below shows the Phase 2 ISTCs that offer elective surgery (including orthopaedic surgery) and the rates of MSRA to date.
|
Phase 2 elective scheme |
Scheme commencement date |
Rates of MRSA* |
|
|
November 2007 |
0% |
|
|
June 2007 |
0% |
|
Northumberland,
|
July 2007 |
0% |
* From August 2007 until February 2008 the data for Phase 2 ISTCs that carry out elective/orthopaedic surgery show a rate of 0% for recorded cases of MRSA.
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to the Section Head of the Department’s Freedom of Information Unit at the following address:
Freedom of Information Unit
Department of Health
Room 334b
Skipton House
80 London Road
SE1 6LH
Email:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xx.xxx.xxx.xx
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Department. The ICO can be contacted at:
The Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Yours sincerely,
Stuart Craig
Department of Health
Room 317
79 Whitehall
London SW1A 2NS