News In Focus
22 February 2007
MRSA victims set to sue
Compensation claims for over 150 victims of the MRSA superbug are about to hit the NHS, according to an article in today's Scotsman.
Solicitor Cameron Fyfe will make a case that the MRSA bacterium is a substance within the Control of Substances Harmful to Health Regulations, so that hospitals are in breach of the law by exposing patients to the risk of infection. The claims, by 156 patients against health boards across Scotland, could mean additional millions being paid in damages by health boards.
It will be alleged that insufficient hygiene and misuse of antibiotics has led to the spread of the infection, of which 1,000 cases a year are now being reported.
The Scottish Executive claims that the number of cases has stabilised and that £15 million has been provided to support measures aimed at cutting the number of cases.