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THE Hampshire NHS trust responsible for Odiham Cottage Hospital has vowed to improve after failing to meet three basic hygiene standards.

A report from national watchdog The Healthcare Commission has shown that Hampshire Primary Care Trust failed to assure there were sufficient controls in place to minimise the risk of infection to patients from superbugs such as MRSA.

The trust also came up short in minimising the risk associated with the acquisition and use of medical devices and with decontaminating procedures.

Basingstoke and North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust - responsible for Basingstoke hospital - met all the commission's standards, as did South Central Ambulance Service and Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust, which provides mental health and learning disability services.

Sue Harriman, director of nursing, therapies and clinical standards for Hampshire PCT, said: "We have completed a very robust review of our standards, finding total compliance with the significant majority of them.

"However, we feel we are not yet able to identify all the complex evidence that is needed to provide complete assurance that we are fully compliant against the new, and more stringent, requirements of the Healthcare Commission's Hygiene Code."

She said the PCT board felt more action was required to assure complete compliance. She added: "We have also just recruited a new infection control team of four highly-qualified and experienced infection control nurses. The new team starts this month and will lead on the delivery of these three standards and will help us become fully compliant."

She said National Patient Safety Agency audits from the Patient Environment Action Team (PEAT) showed all their hospitals, including Odiham Cottage Hospital, provided a "good" environment for patients, except for one in the New Forest, which was classed as "acceptable".

11:50am Saturday 5th July 2008

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