I have just read the posts with great interest. I am a staff nurse in mental health, an ex-hospital administrator, and have a son who, whilst recovering from near death due to meningitis, was infected with mrsa.
I agree with linda regarding the need for extreme hygiene measures in hospital. I agree with stuart in that it is still possible to be infected,whatever measures are taken. I take offense when people bat on about "pen-pushers" in the NHS. Before privatisation and the internal market,admin costs in the uk were 4%. Politicians of all colours were and still are interfering with our structure.Admin costs are now 14%. Please don't blame the office workers who keep the wheels oiled (ordering food,salaries clerks,telephonists etc). The increased costs are mostly due to quantifying and charging for an unnecessary fictional market.