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Cameron suggests superbug fines Cameron suggests superbug fines
(about 5 hours later)
Tory leader David Cameron is to call for NHS hospitals to be fined for every patient who catches a superbug. NHS hospitals should be fined for every patient who catches a superbug, Tory leader David Cameron is to say.
In a speech to mark the 60th year of the NHS, Mr Cameron will say that tough fines would be "a means of hard-wiring infection control into the system".In a speech to mark the 60th year of the NHS, Mr Cameron will say that tough fines would be "a means of hard-wiring infection control into the system".
Hospitals should lose part of their tariff for each patient if that patient acquires an infection, he will say.Hospitals should lose part of their tariff for each patient if that patient acquires an infection, he will say.
The government says hospitals should be fined if they miss infection targets, rather than for individual cases.The government says hospitals should be fined if they miss infection targets, rather than for individual cases.
'Historic opportunity''Historic opportunity'
The Tory leader will speak after a visit to Manchester's Trafford General Hospital, which was the first to be opened as part of the newly-created NHS in 1948.The Tory leader will speak after a visit to Manchester's Trafford General Hospital, which was the first to be opened as part of the newly-created NHS in 1948.
The Conservative Party has an historic opportunity to replace Labour as the party of the NHS David CameronThe Conservative Party has an historic opportunity to replace Labour as the party of the NHS David Cameron
Mr Cameron will say: "It should be a basic rule of social policy that you don't pay for what you don't want more of.Mr Cameron will say: "It should be a basic rule of social policy that you don't pay for what you don't want more of.
"Money should attend success, not failure.""Money should attend success, not failure."
He will say that his initiative would make hospital managers "concentrate on the effectiveness, not just the volume of treatment".He will say that his initiative would make hospital managers "concentrate on the effectiveness, not just the volume of treatment".
Under the plan, fines would be set by the economic regulator Monitor.Under the plan, fines would be set by the economic regulator Monitor.
Mr Cameron will also say: "In this, the NHS's 60th year, the Conservative Party has an historic opportunity to replace Labour as the party of the NHS.Mr Cameron will also say: "In this, the NHS's 60th year, the Conservative Party has an historic opportunity to replace Labour as the party of the NHS.
"That's quite an aspiration, but I believe it is our duty to live up to it.""That's quite an aspiration, but I believe it is our duty to live up to it."
'Deep clean''Deep clean'
The health secretary said Mr Cameron was proposing something that was already in legislation before Parliament.The health secretary said Mr Cameron was proposing something that was already in legislation before Parliament.
Alan Johnson said: "We are already taking powers to fine poor performing hospitals, with the pledge to reinvest that money back into the local NHS."Alan Johnson said: "We are already taking powers to fine poor performing hospitals, with the pledge to reinvest that money back into the local NHS."
Conservative plans to scrap government infection targets would encourage the NHS "to take its eye off the ball" over bugs like MRSA and Clostridium difficile, Mr Johnson said.Conservative plans to scrap government infection targets would encourage the NHS "to take its eye off the ball" over bugs like MRSA and Clostridium difficile, Mr Johnson said.
In October, the government announced that a new regulator, the Care Quality Commission, would be set up with the power to fine hospitals over infections.In October, the government announced that a new regulator, the Care Quality Commission, would be set up with the power to fine hospitals over infections.
It has also promised to introduce greater powers for matrons to order extra cleaning on their wards, and pledged that every hospital would undergo a "deep clean" within a year.It has also promised to introduce greater powers for matrons to order extra cleaning on their wards, and pledged that every hospital would undergo a "deep clean" within a year.
But the Conservatives dismissed the plans as "timid" and a "gimmick", and promised their own "far more significant" measures.But the Conservatives dismissed the plans as "timid" and a "gimmick", and promised their own "far more significant" measures.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown signalled his plan to introduce a constitution for the NHS which would enshrine patients' "rights and responsibilities".On Tuesday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown signalled his plan to introduce a constitution for the NHS which would enshrine patients' "rights and responsibilities".
The government said that did not mean patients with unhealthy lifestyles would be penalised.The government said that did not mean patients with unhealthy lifestyles would be penalised.