Liberal Democrats Launch Charter For Cleaner Hospitals

12.12.49am GMT Sun 4th Nov 2007

Liberal Democrats have launched the Florence Nightingale Charter for cleaner hospitals

Almost half of NHS Trusts have dangerously high occupancy rates that put patients at risk of contracting superbugs, according to analysis by the Liberal Democrats.

The party has highlighted the figures alongside the launch of the Florence Nightingale Charter for cleaner hospitals. High bed occupancy rates are known to be a significant contributor to the spread of superbugs in hospitals and were mentioned in the report into the outbreak of clostridium difficile at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

Liberal Democrat spokesman on Health Norman Lamb says "These bed occupancy figures are shocking. For a lot of the time, many hospitals are effectively full and on 'red alert'. As long as this situation continues, it will undermine efforts to successfully combat hospital acquired infections. It puts staff under undue pressure and risks corners being cut in order to get new arrivals admitted on time.

Our Florence Nightingale Charter, brings into the 21st century her beliefs that healthcare must start with good hygiene, sanitation and a well ordered hospital."