Anger over suspect Tory hospital claim (From Stroud News and Journal)

Anger over suspect Tory hospital claim

CONSERVATIVES have come under fire for party election leaflets that promise to make Stroud hospitals 'cleaner' and appear to make inaccurate claims about MRSA cases.

Residents say they been "alarmed" by letters from Conservative leader Michael Howard that claim a Tory vote will mean 'cleaner hospitals in Stroud'.

The letters go on to claim that there were more than 190 cases of deadly superbug MRSA in the 'local NHS Trust' last year - despite the fact that no patient in Stroud's two hospitals, Stroud General and Stroud Maternity, has ever contracted MRSA.

While Conservatives blamed the confusion on a typing error yesterday, local residents reacted angrily to the claims. Stroud resident Betty Woodward, 78, said: "I am most amazed with the Conservatives.

"We have two hospitals and they are spotless. I have never had a problem with them - you couldn't wish for cleaner hospitals."

One Uley resident added: "My children, my mother and I have all been patients at Stroud hospital in the last year and found it to be very clean indeed.

"I was alarmed by the contents of this letter. Not only will this cause unnecessary anxiety for people using Stroud Hospital but it also undermines the hard work and dedication of the staff."

The Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust, who run the hospitals, said they prided themselves on their high standards of cleanliness.

A Trust spokesman told the SNJ that Stroud hospital had dealt with MRSA cases in the past, but these had come in from other hospitals.

Matron Barbara Ruthers said: "We have an excellent team of staff at our Stroud hospitals.

"Our cleaning, portering and other ancillary staff are fantastic - they keep the hospitals spotless and work hard to ensure patients have an easy and comfortable stay."

Conservatives were quick to respond, saying the letter was loosely worded. A spokesman for Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley told the SNJ: "The letter should have read 'local NHS Trusts' but unfortunately read 'Trust'.

"The figure accurately reflects the number of bloodstream infection rates for the area."

Stroud Tory party candidate Neil Carmichael responded added that Stroud hospital was "first class" - and agreed the leaflet referred to all nearby hospitals.

"It means cleaner hospitals for the whole area - we are not just talking about Stroud," he said.

"Stroud hospital is first class and actually proves the point we are making - that if we have a small, strongly led hospital it works.

"It is run by a matron with excellent staff and that is what we want. We should try to apply that to every hospital in the area."