C.diff cases drop by 45 per cent in London

This all sounds very promising, doesn't it:

Latest figures show there were 1,022 cases between July and September, compared with 1,858 in the same period in 2007. The data from the Health Protection Agency shows London is fighting the superbug more successfully than the rest of the country. Nationally the rate of C.diff in all patients over the age of two has dropped by 33 per cent.

Guy Young, NHS London's Director for Infection Control, said: "These results are the work of a fantastic effort by the NHS in London. Infection control is consistently one of the public's most important considerations when choosing a hospital."

Graziella Kontowski, who runs a C.diff support group in London, said: "There is still a lot of work to be done and people should not get complacent, but this is welcoming news." Kings College Hospital, which saw a drop of 67 per cent in cases, and Epsom and St Helier University hospitals, where there was a 60 per cent fall, were among the most dramatic reductions over the year.

Its does beg a few questions though:

1. If it's that easy, why weren't they doing whatever it was that they are doing last year?

2. Are the statistics honestly compiled?

3. A year on year fall is a good thing, of course, but how do those figures compare with the figures for, ooh, let's say five years ago?

Source: Evening Standard