MRSA Support - HOME PAGE

MRSA Support - HOME PAGE

To date the group has grown to more than 600 members and has the largest membership in the world. We have links to groups in America, Canada and Ireland with whom we exchange information regularly.

We are the original and official support group for sufferers and dependants.

MRSASUPPORT member Rob Prince has kindly set up a DISCUSSION FORUM for us. See what others have to say and/or voice your opinions here.

SPECIAL NOTICE TO ALL WHO READ AND PARTICIPATE IN THE ONLINE DISCUSSION FORUM

It has been brought to our attention that a posting on the forum states that the Greenbridge Environmental Control Limited’s Activ8 product range does not kill Clostridium difficile spores. This is not true.

The product is possibly the most effective killer of Clostridium difficile spores showing a Log 5 reduction in laboratory and hospital tests. For further information please contact Tony Field Chairman of MRSA Support on 0121 476 6583 or Greenbridge Environmental Control Limited on 0117 932 3424 (or via their website www.greenbridge.co.uk).

STOP PRESS
How to reduce your risk of catching MRSA and other Hospital Acquired Infections
Press articles about the risk of contracting MRSA or another hospital acquired infection are all too common and are a cause of concern for people who are facing hospital procedures of any kind.

What can be done to lessen the risk that you might contract MRSA or another HAI? Professor Barry Cookson of the Health Protection Agency is adamant in his belief that to reduce bed occupancy in NHS to a safe level of 85% or below, is pivotal in reducing the incidence of all HAIs. The lower incidence of infection seen in European hospitals, those with more isolation facilities which in effect is a lower bed occupancy, bear out this contention. Professor Cookson believes that government targets are the cause of the current high bed occupancy seen in NHS hospitals and that such targets directly militate against patient safety.

Unfortunately, however, the level of bed occupancy, and the protocols and targets to which NHS staff must work, are without the remit of the ordinary NHS patient. So what measures can the ordinary NHS patient, anxious to prevent infection, take?

It is a damning indictment of the standard of hygiene prevalent in the NHS when Sir Liam Donaldson, the government’s Chief Medical Officer, states that NHS staff are often too complacent and advises patients to remind NHS staff to wash their hands before being attended to, as he believes good hand hygiene is the key to reducing hospital acquired infections such as MRSA.

This is something most patients will be able to do and, as a result, MRSASUPPORT have produced a 10 point checklist, designed to give every patient the best chance of preventing infection while in hospital.

To view, print or download click 10 Point Checklist.

End of STOP PRESS

THE KEN ARCHER MEMORIAL BOOK for VICTIMS OF MRSA AND OTHER HOSPITAL ACQUIRED INFECTIONS
We have produced the Memorial Book in response to the call from our members for an official means of recording MRSA and other hospital acquired infections, whether or not entered on death certificates, and to help give comfort to bereaved relatives of victims. This will also help to count the unnecessary tragedies and create a fitting, tangible and permanent memorial for all victims.

The book is named after one of our late members, Ken Archer. Marie Archer, his widow, thought of the idea of a memorial when she realised that she had been treated very badly over the entry on his death certificate, so this book is dedicated to his memory.

The book was officially opened for entries on Friday 9th December 2005.
We invite all relatives of victims of MRSA, MSSA, and other infections to send details and a few words about their loved ones to make a permanent record. For entries we ask for a donation to cover production costs (we would suggest amounts from Ł5).

To view the memorial book click here to see the cover, here for a sample of the entries, and here to view the foreword from our kind sponsor.

For further details and to reserve an entry please contact:
Anne Johnstone on 0121 459 0490
Tony Field on 0121 476 6583
Pam Milward on 01527 874766
Christine Hopkins on 02476 325446
or e-mail info@mrsasupport.co.uk

Members of MRSASUPPORT have published a booklet aimed at helping hospital patients and visitors to defend themselves from picking up the MRSA bug.

Compiled by their chairman Tony Field, the booklet entitled "MRSA - A PATIENT'S DEFENCE!" outlines practical steps which can be taken to help prevent the spread of the deadly infection.

Councillor Reg Corns who introduced the booklet during the group's meeting at St Laurence Pastoral Centre (Northfield, Birmingham) on 13th September 2003 said, that "When lying on a hospital bed you are less than two feet from one of the deadliest enemies lurking on the floor. Also, this booklet will help all those patients and visitors point out to the authorities any areas of malpractice, where normally they wouldn't have the nerve to do so."

MP Richard Burden said:
"Having to go into hospital is a stressful time for us all. To then be hit by something like MRSA is a dreadful blow. That is why I am really pleased that people who have been through the experience have formed this support group, both to highlight the issue of MRSA itself and to provide information and advice - by patients for patients."

Tony Field said that the response had been tremendous and the group has grown to over 600 members (from 25 in April 2003). This is due to the demand for information in laymans terms which the health authorities seem reluctant to provide. "We would like to see every patient and visitor given one of these booklets before entering a hospital or nursing home" he added.

For a free booklet, please send us a Stamped Addressed C5 Envelope. The booklets are available in English, Gujurati, Punjabi and Urdu. Please let us know which version you would like. A very big thank you to Smith & Nephew Healthcare Ltd for sponsoring the booklets.

To join the group; the annual subscription is Ł12.50 (this includes the booklet and 10 newsletters).
Please print out the Membership Application Form and send it to us along with your cheque.
If you do not wish to join, but have been infected with a Hospital Acquired Infection... please complete our Hospital Survey and send it to us.
(You will need a PDF reader to open the Membership Application Form and Hospital Survey files. Download a free PDF reader from www.adobe.com if you don't already have one installed on your computer.)

HELP PLEASE!

If anyone (who has a little time to spare) would be willing to help us we would be most grateful. If you would like to help please e-mail us at info@mrsasupport.co.uk Many thanks.

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