MRSA screening of emergency and elective patients

Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust commenced MRSA screening in 2001 in the high risk areas of vascular and orthopaedic surgery. Screening was then progressively rolled out to cover elective inpatients and then all adult medical and surgical non-elective (emergency) patients in 2005. This was well in advance of Department of Health guidance to screen all non-elective adult patients by 2011.

In March 2009, the Department of Health made screening compulsory for all emergency and nearly all elective adult admissions with every organisation needing to demonstrate compliance along with a statement that they are compliant .

Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust can confirm that it is compliant with this requirement, as evidenced by the MRSA Screening Assurance data submitted to Unify.

Our screening policy is contained within policy TPP 124/2 – Reducing Staphylococcus Aureus infection in Adult Surgical and Medical Specialities – February 2009.

Our patient information leaflet (included in TPP 124/2) gives guidance to patients on MRSA and our screening programme.

John Wiggins
Medical Director