C-diff cases more than double at the North Middlesex and Whittington hospital in just two years 10/05/07

Justin Hinchcliffe, of Haringey Conservatives, expressed concern this week at new official figures which have revealed the growing spread of the new hospital superbug - Clostridium difficile ('C-diff').

Across England, new statistics show that there were almost 60,000 cases of  C-Diff amongst pensioners - figures are not kept for younger people - an increase of 12,000 from 2004 when records first began. Locally, there were 81 cases registered in 2004 but that number had jumped to 196 in 2006 at the North Middlesex hospital and 71 to 195 at The Whittington.

The revelation comes as NHS statistics also show that Labour have cut 6,000 nursing jobs due to the financial crisis in the health service.

Justin Hinchcliffe comments:

"Labour Ministers are failing to face up to the dangers of the C-diff superbug. I am very concerned that hardworking NHS staff are not getting the support they need to deliver a comprehensive strategy against hospital-acquired infections.

"In the last year, Labour have cut 6,000 nursing jobs. It is little wonder that we have seen such a rise in C-diff infections. The latest figures are just the tip of the iceberg, because they do not even include the huge number of infections in people aged under 65. Gordon Brown's financial mismanagement of the NHS has allowed deaths from superbugs to grow to an appalling level.

"The NHS is Conservatives' number one priority. We will give health care professionals the freedom and support they need to ensure patients receive the best care."

ENDs.