Targets 'hit superbug prevention'

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Almost half (45%) felt unable to reconcile managing infections such as MRSA with the target for people to be seen at A&E within four hours, the Healthcare Commission report said.

Pressure to move patients to any available bed rather than the most appropriate bed or an isolation ward was one reason cited for the difficulties.

The study also found that 29% of trusts had problems in reconciling control of infection with waiting list targets.

And 36% said they had trouble reconciling cleanliness and infection control with the need to meet financial targets.

Three trusts said there was a lack of investment in cleaning, while 10 said their infection control teams suffered constraints owing to financial difficulties.

One example was constraints on introducing MRSA screening before surgery or being able to carry out proper surveillance of infections.

One trust told the watchdog: "Financial targets means ward staff work under increasing pressure, damaged equipment is not readily replaced, delayed introduction of alcohol hand gels..."

A Healthcare Commission report into Stoke Mandeville hospital in Aylesbury, published last year, found that pressure to meet the A&E target led to the deadly spread of the Clostridium difficile bug. That report said "the approach to the target for A&E led to some patients with infections being admitted to, or moved to, open wards rather than isolation facilities".

In the latest report, the commission said trusts "must ensure that the safety of patients is never subordinated to other priorities".