PLEDGE OVER QUEEN MARY'S

Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt, agreed on Tuesday during Health Questions to look into the issue of cleanliness inspections at Queen Mary's Sidcup. The Minister was responding to a question in Parliament from Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary Professor Steve Webb MP.

Prof. Webb MP said: "Ben Abbotts contacted me after receiving reports that Queen Mary's are refusing to allow inspectors from the Patients' Forum to continue to use torches to examine confined spaces for dirt. Hospital cleanliness is a crucial issue in preventing infection in hospitals, particularly given the MRSA epidemic."

Ben Abbotts added: "Queen Mary's was in the headlines last year as Britain's worst hospital for MRSA. It is crucial for both hygiene, and for public confidence, that the Patients' Forum are allowed to continue in full their independent inspections.

"This week I also visited Chislehurst Health Practice and met local GP's to discuss health issues and local health matters."

Ben 4 Bromley