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New measures to tackle hospital-acquired infections in the UK are to be unveiled by health minister Lord Ara Darzi.
The minister will use his interim report on the NHS to discuss ways of fighting resistant pathogens such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile, and measures to improve innovation and quality in the health service.
He said: “Over the last three months, I have spoken to patients, the public and NHS staff and received thousands of letters and emails to inform the review.
“This interim report is the result of my discussions and sets out a vision for the next phase of the NHS.
“I want to see the UK become a world leader in pharmaceutical and medical technology research and development, so NHS patients have access to the best innovative treatments and services.”
He will also chair a new Health Innovation Council, which will include specialists from the NHS, academia and industry.
Around £100m will also be pledged to help the NHS develop and introduce new medical devices and diagnostic services.
But health campaigners and opposition MPs have accused the Government of rushing out the report.
Geoff Martin, from the group Health Emergency, said: “There is no way that in the few short months that Lord Darzi has been looking at the NHS that he could have examined the detail of the proposed local changes that are rumbling on and taken enough evidence from key players to form even an outline framework for the future.”
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