Infections 'the biggest NHS fear'

Picking up an infection is the public's main concern about hospital care, a UK-wide BBC poll shows, reported The BBC.

Of the 1,040 people quizzed, 40% listed the risk of potentially deadly infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile as their top NHS concern.

In a separate finding, 31% said they would consider avoiding NHS surgery for fear of getting an infection.

The government said it had introduced a raft of measures which were already having an impact in reducing infection.

Despite the concerns raised by the survey, 82% of respondents said they were proud of the health service, with half claiming it was still the envy of the world. The most widely-cited concern after infections was the wait people face for treatment.

Despite the NHS in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland making shorter waits a priority, one in four people still cited this as a concern.

In England, which is the furthest ahead in reducing waits, no-one should be waiting longer than 18 weeks by the end of the year.

By comparison, a decade ago, waits of two years were not uncommon.

One in 10 polled also said that both the lack of staff and mixed-sex accommodation was their biggest concern.

However, it is superbugs which dominate people's thoughts in the poll carried out by ICM Research for the BBC.

Just 33% of respondents said they were confident that the NHS would protect them from picking up an infection in hospital. In contrast, 94% were confident that the NHS would provide good care in an emergency such as a car crash, and 86% were confident it would deliver a baby safely.

Ministers have made tackling bugs a priority, launching initiatives such as this year's £50m deep clean of wards.

MRSA rates have been falling almost consistently for the last two years - although they have recently shown signs of stalling at just above 4,000 cases per quarter in England.

Nonetheless, the government is confident it will meet its target to halve rates this year based on a 2004 baseline.