MRSA - are private hospitals safer?

 
MRSA, is the so-called "superbug" most commonly associated with hospital-acquired infection, is becoming an increasingly important issue.

Publicity regarding the alarming increase in infections in NHS hospitals has largely overshadowed the Department of Health's good news in terms of falling waiting lists, with their latest statistics indicating an infection rate of 0.64%* of total NHS admissions. This may seem a small number and it is true that most of these cases will be skin or wound infections that can be easily cured. Those that result in infections entering into the bloodstream, however, are a serious, even life threatening, risk.

Given that the NHS does seem to be performing better in many areas, it is not surprising that private hospitals are beginning to see MSRA as a chance to emphasise some quality differentials between themselves and the public alternative. The body that represents private hospitals, the Independent Healthcare Forum, has made a statement that MRSA is "not a major problem at this time" in the independent sector. According to Healthcare Market News, although there are no comparable statistics for the private sector as a whole, most of the large chains report levels at well below 0.1% of admissions. Higher staff-to-patient ratios and single rooms with en suite bathrooms are the most obvious reasons for the difference.

This could have a wider-reaching effect than the mere retention of existing private medical insurance subscribers. If all goes to plan, by December 2005 the Government will be offering everyone the opportunity to pick one of at least four hospitals in their area that are able to perform the operation that they need at the right price and within a reasonably short timescale. At least one of these will have to be an independent hospital. If the private sector succeeds in differentiating itself on quality grounds, then the Government will find that the private sector options may be seriously oversubscribed. Of course, this may drive quality improvements in NHS hospitals as well. Single rooms for NHS patients, and with no waiting list - it could just happen!

*Source: Healthcare Market News - August/September 2004