C. difficile deaths double in Britains dirty hospitals

The UKs National Health System is admired by many but in the last few years deaths from infections caught by patients whilst in hospital have caused many to fear admission for even minor surgery. MRSA was the first scare and now deaths from C.difficile - Clostridium difficile - are sais to have doubled in two years despite a government instruction for hospitals to undergo a 'deep clean'. The fact is that most of these deaths are avoidable by staff using good hygiene practices and the hospital authorities opening existing closed wards to avoid overcrowding. Where ever possible some patients are now asking GPs to undertake minor surgery at the local practice rather than be admitted to hospital. The NHS is still a jewel but care must be taken to see that it sparkles cleanly.