This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/7511136.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Target to cut MRSA virtually hit | Target to cut MRSA virtually hit |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| There has been a big drop in MRSA infections leaving the target to halve the rate all but hit, figures show. | |
| Cases in England fell by 11% from January to March to 966 cases - just three away from its target. | Cases in England fell by 11% from January to March to 966 cases - just three away from its target. |
| The government has until the next quarter to hit the target set by then health secretary John Reid in 2004. | |
| But the Clostridium difficile rate has risen by 6% during the same period, reversing a trend of steady falls, Health Protection Agency data showed. | |
| However, compared to the same quarter last year the total of 10,586 cases represents a 32% reduction. | |
| 'Impressive' | |
| The fall in MRSA cases suggests the government has got to grips with the superbug. | |
| When the target was set, it was widely seen as unachievable. Even within the Department of Health, leaked documents last year showed there was serious concern it would be missed. | |
| The government will not formally measure the target until the results of the April to June quarter are revealed in the autumn. | |
| This has proved controversial, with many expecting them to take the January to March period. | |
| But the drop now is being welcomed, with the target virtually hit ahead of schedule. | |
| HPA infections expert Dr Georgia Duckworth said: "The substantial drop is impressive and a credit to the hard work of our colleagues in the NHS." |