Hospital managers to blame for MRSA, say eight out of 10 Brits

On the day that all NHS hospitals should have completed a 'deep clean' in an effort by the Department of Health to tackle superbugs, new research shows that the British public lays the blame for MRSA squarely at the feet of hospital managers, rather than cleaners, doctors, patients or visitors.

In fact, Brits are now so worried about contracting the superbug, that it ranks as one of their top three concerns when choosing a hospital.

Today's findings from a study commissioned by Bupa of over 1000 adults in Great Britain, show that the British public not only holds managers responsible for dealing with MRSA, but also blames them for the high level of the superbug in NHS hospitals. Eight out of 10 said that hospital management are responsible for the rise of MRSA, making them 10 times more to blame than cleaners, 80 times more guilty than doctors and 100 times more to blame than patients.

Concern over the superbug has risen to such an extent that when Brits consider which hospital to choose for treatment, the rate of MRSA is now one of their top three issues - along with waiting times and the reputation of the hospital itself. According to the study, people also now rate the level of MRSA in a hospital as on a par with the reputation of the consultant handling their treatment.

But while fears about MRSA are high, Brits are not prepared to travel to find a clean hospital - they want one on their doorstep. In fact, seven out of 10 people said they would not go more than 20 miles to find a hospital with a low rate of MRSA.

Dr. Paula Franklin, deputy medical director at Bupa UK Health Insurance, commented: "Clean hospitals have become so important to the British public that they now represent the biggest reason why people buy health insurance, with two out of three people taking out health insurance because they want to make sure they are treated in a clean hospital.

"While our survey shows the public place the blame for superbugs squarely at the door of hospital management, people need to be alert to the fact that MRSA is largely brought into hospitals by patients and visitors. Greater awareness is needed so that everyone - and not just hospital staff - can play a part in the fight against superbugs".