Infection Control at the RNOH

No doubt you are aware of the Government and public concerns about the increase in rates of infection in NHS Hospitals. I am writing to you as a patient of the RNOH to reassure you about our infection rates. This may be especially important to you as we understand that you are planned to attend the RNOH for treatment in the future.

Firstly, we are pleased to confirm that the RNOH has extremely low infection rates. Independent confirmation of this can be found on the Department of Health's published data on MRSA Bacteraemia (infection in the blood) infection rates which places this hospital as one of the lowest in the country.

Also the RNOH recently undertook a study of infections following hip and knee replacements. The results of this study are as follows:

October - December 2009

	Number of operations	Number of Infections
Knee Replacement	101	0
Hip Replacement	104	0
Spinal Surgery	187	3

MRSA Bacteraemia (infection in the blood)

Year	RNOH Cases Reported MRSA
Apr - Sep 09	0
Oct - Dec 09	1

Clostridium Difficile is a spore forming bacterium

Year	RNOH Cases Reported C.D.H
Apr - Sep 2009	1

No cases of C. Difficile have been through cross-infection at the RNOH.

Swine Flu Update: there have been no cases of swine flu within the patient groups treated at the Trust.

We would also like to assure you that the RNOH continues to make every effort to improve our rates of infection and we intend to keep patients informed of the progress we make in this area.

I hope you find this information reassuring prior to your attendance for treatment here at the RNOH.

Yours sincerely

Camilla Wiley
Director of Nursing