Hospital patients remain at significant risk of healthcare-associated infections because more information is required about bed occupancy rates on a ward-by-ward basis, the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) has warned.
The annual publication of the Department of Health’s bed occupancy statistics shows that bed occupancy rates remain high with general and acute beds occupied almost 87% of the time. The RCS believes that such high occupancy rates do not allow thorough cleaning and changing between patients and therefore results in a greater risk of infection. In a recent statement, the RCS said that it agreed with the National Audit Office report on hospital-acquired infections that maximum bed occupancy should not exceed 82%. John Black, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said: “The Government has made a great start by publishing weekly infection rates for individual wards. The public can now get a clear idea of which wards are overcrowded. Bed occupancy rates above 82% are a clear predictor of an increased risk of infection after an operation and patients should be given this information. The RCS remains committed to seeing bed occupancy rates fall, as this will significantly improve patient safety.”
