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Commons clash over C.diff scandal Commons clash over C.diff deaths
(20 minutes later)
Gordon Brown and David Cameron have clashed in the House of Commons over the clostridium difficile outbreak at hospitals in Kent.Gordon Brown and David Cameron have clashed in the House of Commons over the clostridium difficile outbreak at hospitals in Kent.
The Conservative leader asked the prime minister if the government's "top down targets" were contributing to poor infection control by NHS trusts.The Conservative leader asked the prime minister if the government's "top down targets" were contributing to poor infection control by NHS trusts.
Mr Brown replied that C.diff and MRSA were being tackled with new isolation wards and a deep clean of hospitals.Mr Brown replied that C.diff and MRSA were being tackled with new isolation wards and a deep clean of hospitals.
Ninety patient deaths in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells were caused by C.diff.Ninety patient deaths in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells were caused by C.diff.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson apologised last week for the "truly scandalous" outbreak which was exposed in a Healthcare Commission report.Health Secretary Alan Johnson apologised last week for the "truly scandalous" outbreak which was exposed in a Healthcare Commission report.
New hospital pleaNew hospital plea
But Mr Cameron said at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday: "On Maidstone Hospital, the Healthcare Commission said: 'Senior managers were reluctant to implement major infection control measures because of the need to meet targets'." But Mr Cameron said at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday: "On Maidstone Hospital, the Healthcare Commission said 'senior managers were reluctant to implement major infection control measures because of the need to meet targets'."
He asked Mr Brown: "Will you accept that the number and extent of your top down targets are contributing to this problem?"He asked Mr Brown: "Will you accept that the number and extent of your top down targets are contributing to this problem?"
The prime minister replied: "It is because we are concerned about MRSA and C.diff that we have taken very special measures - isolation wards, we are about to appoint 3,000 more matrons, [and] we are also about to do a deep clean of hospitals."The prime minister replied: "It is because we are concerned about MRSA and C.diff that we have taken very special measures - isolation wards, we are about to appoint 3,000 more matrons, [and] we are also about to do a deep clean of hospitals."
The C.diff health trust's chairman resigned on MondayThe C.diff health trust's chairman resigned on Monday
Mr Brown added that the interim chief executive of the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Glenn Douglas, had said "targets are there for a reason and should not stop us from focusing majorly on patient safety. That is the number one priority".Mr Brown added that the interim chief executive of the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Glenn Douglas, had said "targets are there for a reason and should not stop us from focusing majorly on patient safety. That is the number one priority".
The Commons debate came as two west Kent MPs met Alan Johnson to seek assurances that a new £300m PFI hospital at Pembury, near Tunbridge Wells, would not be derailed by the C.diff scandal.The Commons debate came as two west Kent MPs met Alan Johnson to seek assurances that a new £300m PFI hospital at Pembury, near Tunbridge Wells, would not be derailed by the C.diff scandal.
Sevenoaks MP Michael Fallon said afterwards: "Two of these three hospitals [involved in the C.diff outbreak] were very, very old buildings.Sevenoaks MP Michael Fallon said afterwards: "Two of these three hospitals [involved in the C.diff outbreak] were very, very old buildings.
"That doesn't excuse what happened, but we've been waiting 10 years for the new Pembury hospital and I hope now it won't be much longer.""That doesn't excuse what happened, but we've been waiting 10 years for the new Pembury hospital and I hope now it won't be much longer."
Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark added: "He [the health secretary] gave me his assurance that he would do everything he can to make sure the hospital is built."Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark added: "He [the health secretary] gave me his assurance that he would do everything he can to make sure the hospital is built."