13 November 2008
No extra money to tackle C difficile
Marlyn Glen has been informed by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon that NHS Tayside will receive no new money for the new campaign to reduce rates of C difficile by 30 per cent by 2011.
In addition, she told Ms. Glen that the share of the £54 million for tackling Health Acquired Infection that is to be spent on programmes within NHS Tayside over the next three years cannot be specifically identified.
Questioned by Ms. Glen about whether health boards such as NHS Tayside would receive additional money outwith the £54 million already allocated to reduce C difficile rates, Nicola Sturgeon said that additional funding to support the new target of up to £2 million was being made available to NHS Boards "from within the resources provided to tackle Healthcare Associated Infection in Scotland."
Ms. Glen said,
" C difficile is a major new problem that the NHS faces.
"This requires more new money, and not money that may now have to diverted from other resources.
" The £54 million already invested on tackling HAI has been welcomed on all sides, but it remains to be seen if it is sufficient for the task ahead."