Hospital 'cut blood tests to spin superbug figures'

The row broke out after Kingston hospital sent a memo to staff detailing when they should take blood tests.

The memo also said it was "disappointed" by the number of MRSA cases reported.

A senior member of staff at Kingston claimed the email encouraged workers to carry out fewer blood tests, which would then result in fewer cases of MRSA being detected. But Kingston Hospital NHS Trust denied the allegation, saying it sent the memo simply to remind staff of the correct procedures that should be followed when taking blood.

The email, seen by the Evening Standard, was sent by the hospital's medical director on 28 January to all clinical staff and urged them to make sure they had been assessed as competent to carry out "blood culture sampling" - a way of testing for MRSA. It went on to encourage staff to check with a consultant or senior member of the nursing team whether blood samples were needed before taking them.

It also said the discovery of five cases of MRSA in January had "serious implications" for the trust.

The email read: "Whilst we understand the complexities of clinical decis ion making, we need to have confidence that decisions to take blood culture specimens are appropriate."

The hospital source told the BBC: "I thought we were all meant to be trying to reduce the risk of MRSA genuinely, rather than simply massaging the figures to reduce the number of tests.

"Really, I think it's more driven by government guidelines than actually by patient care. I think the paragraph in which they suggest that it may affect our application for foundation trust status says it all."

He added: "Certainly there will be a sort of significant reduction simply by doing fewer blood tests. If you are not looking for something you won't pick up."

Helen Dirilen, director of nursing and quality for Kingston Hospital NHS Trust, said: "The number of blood tests carried out at the trust are not being reduced to affect the number of MRSA cases being reported.

"The trust currently carries out an average of 150 blood cultures a week, significantly more than other district general hospitals of the same size. Reducing MRSA and all hospitalacquired infections is one of our key priorities."

She added: "As part of good practice, a memo was sent to all clinical staff last week to remind them of the correct procedures and indications for the collection of blood culture samples from patients. The aim is to ensure patient safety and to try and prevent contamination of blood culture samples."

Ms Dirilen said the number of MRSA cases at the hospital had been reduced by 36per cent and that the hospital's work to make sure people wash their hands has been recognised by the Department of Health.

Speaking about the row on BBC Radio Five Live this morning, Health Secretary Alan Johnson said: "I went to Kingston last year and it's an excellent hospital." He added: "I believe it is absolutely the case what they meant in this memo was to ensure patient safety."

A spokesman for the British Medical Association said he was not aware of any similar allegations against hospitals trying to cut their MRSA rates.