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Top e-government news, updated daily, and regular features from the top people in the public sector.
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| We need more cash to fight superbugs |
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Health bosses today said the city was not spending as much as it should to fight infectious diseases such as MRSA.
For the first time, figures showing a breakdown of spending for different diseases and services was released by Peter Brambleby, director of public health for Norwich.
The Health of Norwich 2005 report shows Norwich PCT's estimated programme budget for infectious diseases in 2004/5 per 100,000 population as £1,481,000 compared with a national average of £2,012,000.
Infectious diseases include hospital-acquired bacterial infections such as MRSA and Clostridium Difficile; blood-borne viruses such as Hepatitis B and C and HIV; meningitis and sexually transmitted diseases.
The news has prompted calls for further investment to fight such diseases and a new programme will be put in place to control the spread of infections.
Dr Brambleby said: “The spread of these diseases remains a high concern but we are not spending as much here as other health authorities.
“This is something that has been noticed for the first time because these figures are now available. We know that further investment is needed.”
The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital's rates of MRSA infection have not changed in the past 12 months but bosses failed to hit the government target to slash the superbug rates by 20pc.
Figures released last month by the Health Protection Agency show from March 2005 to March 2006 there were 58 recorded cases of MRSA, the previous year was the same and 12 months before that the figures reached 64.
Genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics in Norfolk have reported an increase in HIV diagnosis and treatment with the N&N reporting a 12.5pc increase, although not all patients will be Norwich residents.
An estimated 5,000 people in Norfolk have Hepatitis C but 90pc are not aware they have it, while patients are being forced to wait an average of seven days for an appointment at a sexual health clinic in East Anglia.
Research published last week revealed only six out of 17 clinics surveyed in the region provided appointments within the government target time of 48 hours at a time when sexually acquired infections such as chlamydia are on the increase.
Norwich North MP Ian Gibson said: “This report opens the door for the new primary care trust to address health problems facing people in Norwich and Norfolk. Spending more money is often a solution to problems but better training in schools is needed to teach people early on about preventing diseases from spreading, such as washing hands regularly and other simple things.
“This report shows we must do more to reduce the infection rates of MRSA and other infectious diseases.” |
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