"Yet, three years after the first reintroduction of the "modern" matron, the number of deaths from the superbug MRSA has doubled. The figures, up from 487 in 1999 to 955 in 2003, have caused alarm among health professionals and patient groups."
The problem is that even if you have a budget that does not mean that you can actually control what is done. There is a philosophical flaw in the concept that everything can be managed effectively through a contract. It is a bit like keyhole surgery. In theory things can be done, but not a lot although if only little bits need to be done then everything works.
One of the problems with MRSA is noone really has any idea of how much underreporting there is.
However, unless you actually give the ability to manage to people which means the ability to sack a contractor or member of staff then it is difficult to manage all aspect of a system.
If a "matron" says - you haven't cleaned there and the response is "it is not in the SLA". That's the end of it.
A few years ago I went to Selly Oak Emergency and they didn't have enough tourniquets so they simply used a rubber glove. It isn't a big thing, but it was too much hassle to get it right. When I raised this with management they denied it. However, I had seen what happened myself.
We had the same problem with the cleaning of Cockshut Hill School when PFI started there. It got close to closing down the school because it was so dirty. Amazing, but true.
Theories that work in the Treasury and Cabinet Office fall to pieces around the country.
The problem is that even if you have a budget that does not mean that you can actually control what is done. There is a philosophical flaw in the concept that everything can be managed effectively through a contract. It is a bit like keyhole surgery. In theory things can be done, but not a lot although if only little bits need to be done then everything works.
One of the problems with MRSA is noone really has any idea of how much underreporting there is.
However, unless you actually give the ability to manage to people which means the ability to sack a contractor or member of staff then it is difficult to manage all aspect of a system.
If a "matron" says - you haven't cleaned there and the response is "it is not in the SLA". That's the end of it.
A few years ago I went to Selly Oak Emergency and they didn't have enough tourniquets so they simply used a rubber glove. It isn't a big thing, but it was too much hassle to get it right. When I raised this with management they denied it. However, I had seen what happened myself.
We had the same problem with the cleaning of Cockshut Hill School when PFI started there. It got close to closing down the school because it was so dirty. Amazing, but true.
Theories that work in the Treasury and Cabinet Office fall to pieces around the country.
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