Reply_to_PO00000058242
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 11:14 AM
Subject: Jane Kennedy's reply to Norman Warner's letter
To Crispin Blunt
MP for Reigate
Dear Crispin
You are right in spotting that Jane Kennedy has missed the point in her letter PO00000058242.
1. I am amazed that someone else has replied to my letter when I specifically sent it to Lord Warner. I had even made it perfectly clear that it related to previous correspondence from him, a comment from Baroness Tonge to him personally, and the indication of an undertaking that he may have made to her, recorded officially in Hansard.
2. Jane Kennedy has evidently never read my article that I was referring to - nor any of the research that I have done on the subject since then and provided free of charge to the Healthcare Commission and the DoH.
3. She has evidently not even noticed the wording about Florence Nightingale that I had emphasised in bold. It is about (a) light, (b) ventilation and (c) areas being self contained. These are points that were missed in the government's summary of the HCAI Consultation "Action on Healthcare Associated Infections in England". I had already pointed out that there were omissions - and so had the Royal College of Physicians. Clearly it needs pointing out again and emphasising to government ministers whose job it is to get our hospitals working efficiently: light/UV light/ventilation/fresh air/clean air/air treatments/air decontamination etc. See http://www.relax-well.co.uk/good_luck.html#officialconsultations
4. I did not know that £68 million was invested in hospital environments
(in 5 and a half years) . However, I note the comparison with the £1388
million that are spent every year on hospital acquired infections - that they
are still not preventing their spread - and they are only adding to the risks
by pressurising hospitals with targets - as evidenced at Epsom Hospital Maternity
Unit only last week. Also they are not taking any notice of the excellent
advice to introduce phage therapy as a viable alternative to antibiotics -
and the more holistic approaches that are proven to be effective against HCAIs
- more effective than the heavyduty antibiotics, apparently! Meanwhile, as
you know, we could do with another £68 million here for East Surrey
Hospital right now. It would make a big difference to many people's lives
including the staff, not just the patient experience.
5. However, best of all Crispin - do take a look at the website that the Minister
of State has recommended for me! It is www.patientexperience.nhsestates.gov.uk
. If that is the advice for Hospital Trusts, then heaven help us! All it says
is:
This is a Test Page For Lynx Technology .
Yours ever, Grace