Hospital Acquired Infections

Release date:
5 November 2015

You asked

I am looking to request the below information through the FOI Act:

The number of deaths within NHS care due to hospital-acquired infections for the years 2013 and 2014, respectively.

We said

We do not currently publish data on all hospital acquired infections.

There is data available on Clostridium difficile infection for Wales for 2013 and 2014:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsinvolvingclostridiumdifficilewales/2015-09-03

and

MRSA for Wales for 2013 and 2014:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsinvolvingmrsawales/2015-09-03

Although C. difficile and MRSA are commonly referred to as healthcare associated infections, it is not possible to state from the information on a death certificate where the infection was acquired, nor can assumptions be made about quality of care. People are often transferred between hospitals, care homes and other establishments, and may acquire infections in a different place from where they died.

If you require any further information please contact us.

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