Hospital infection rates in England out of control

The NHS in England could save an estimated £150m ($240m) and many hundreds of lives by tightening hygiene rules in hospitals and investing in infection control, according to the spending watchdog the National Audit Office. The money could then be ploughed back into patient care.

At least 100000 cases of hospital acquired infections occur each year in England, with an estimated 5000 deaths, all of which cost the NHS in the region of £1bn annually, states the report.

Better education of staff on the spread of infection, improved surveillance of patients …