大象传媒

It was reported today that the number of patients at the Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway, found to be colonised with the MRSA bacterium, has risen by 30%. Previously, the hospital held the position with the lowest number of MRSA patients. The Medical Director to the Western Isles NHS Board has declared that this should be viewed in the context of an increased number of patients.

MRSA stands for Multi Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. It is a bug which occurs naturally in the community at large, living primarily on people's skin. In healthy people it does not pose a threat. It becomes a definite threat in those of frail health, reduce immunity or with open wounds. Any infection with this bug is very difficult to treat. As the abbreviation implies, the organism is resistant to virtually all antibiotics.

It is common practice to take swab tests of everybody in hospital to check whether MRSA is present on the skin. A positive test for MRSA is no cause for immediate concern, it merely indicates that measures need to be taken. The bacterium can be eradicated from the skin with disinfectant washes, which the hospital doctor will prescribe.

The worsened MRSA situation at Western Isles Hospital has arisen as a result of increased patient through-put, according to the Medical Director. He will want to cast a critical look at the whole picture. If patients are shunted from ward to ward several times during their admission there is every chance that MRSA gets transferred along with them. If precautions, like washing hands between patients by doctors, nurses and other professionals, are not adhered to, then this also increases the risk. Standards in nursing care are set to have fallen as a result of the comprehensive breakdown of staff-management relations. Pressure to discharge patients because their beds are needed will inevitably result in patients being discharged before they are really fit to go home. As a result, they'll come straight back in again.

It is disappointing to see the result of the mismanagement at NHS Western Isles borne out in these poor statistics. It is a cause of grave concern that standards of care have now demonstrably fallen, affecting patient care and health.

A few days ago, I reported that the Board's Medical Director did not think it necessary to have a hospice in the Western Isles, a grossly insensitive statement. Now we have the same medical director not being prepared to face up to the consequences of the Health Board's actions. It's one thing having a deficit of 拢3m. It's quite another to allow patient care to suffer. Cutbacks could be made elsewhere. Like in the remuneration of GP out-of-hours services, in giving financial perks to senior managers (free flights home every weekend, top-of-the-range relocation expenses).

I am pleased to note that the Western Isles MSP is asking questions.
The Health Minister should act; this problem is beyond local resolution.