MRSA Action UK has been certified as a provider of safe, reliable, high quality health and social care information
19th January 2012
MRSA Action UK has been certified as a provider of high quality health and social care information by The Information Standard scheme. MRSA Action UK met the scheme criteria of producing safe and reliable health and social care information. The organisation has consequently been awarded The Information Standard quality mark, which it can display on its literature and website illustrating to the public that its information can be trusted.
According to a survey carried out by The Information Standard , the majority of the general public (72%) believe that they would be better able to manage their own and their family's health if they had quick and easy access to health information they could trust. The Information Standard, which is supported by the Department of Health, was launched to provide this kind of assurance.
Angela Coulter PhD, Hon FFPH, Hon FRCGP, an independent healthcare analyst who advises on the scheme, commented: "Organisations that become certified members of the scheme, and therefore display The Information Standard quality mark on their health information or social care materials, have proven that they adhere to the very highest standards of information production. The public can feel confident that if they see The Information Standard quality mark on health and social care websites or leaflets then the information can be trusted and relied upon."
Derek Butler, Chair of MRSA Action UK, said of its certification: "As one of the first patient charities representing those affected by avoidable healthcare infections, we recognise how important it is to be able to access reliable information about healthcare associated infections and what is being done to help people who are affected. This is a significant achievement for our organisation, as we have no paid staff. We support those who need help as volunteers, having been affected by avoidable healthcare infections ourselves."
"I would like to take the opportunity to thank those who helped us achieve this accreditation, including the staff who work in infection prevention and control who gave up their time to help with their knowledge and expertise in reviewing our information"
"To achieve the Department of Health's Information Standard, we have worked with the public, medical staff and infection control specialists in the NHS and members of our organisation to ensure we attain the highest levels of professionalism and standards in our efforts to educate, inform and to give factual, reliable, impartial, informative, well-resourced and referenced information. Equally important, is that it is easily understood by whoever is seeking help, such as those who come to us for the facts around avoidable healthcare infections. We have always believed that the fight against avoidable healthcare infections is a partnership effort, involving all those that come into contact with the NHS including the public, patients and their families, healthcare staff, Government and the media."
Any organisation that produces health and social care information can apply to become a certified member of the scheme.
The Information Standard is a certification scheme for health and social care information. It is an independent scheme supported by the Department of Health. Any organisation that produces health and social care information can apply to join the scheme. If an organisation successfully meets the quality criteria of the standard and becomes certified, it can place the quality mark on its materials. The quality mark is a quick and easy way for the public to identify reliable and trustworthy sources of information. The scheme's certified members are a mix of national charities, NHS organisations, voluntary, statutory and commercial organisations. The scheme is growing as organisations are in the process of gaining certification.
For further information please go to www.theinformationstandard.org
Julia and Steve Owen ran throughout 2011 in memory of Donald Owen, Steve's dad, who sadly passed away after contracting MRSA following a knee operation. Their phenomenal efforts are recognised everywhere they go raising awareness of MRSA and we are priveleged to have them doing this to raise funds for MRSA Action UK. 2012 will be just as busy for them both, especially with Jules volunteering role in the 2012 Olympics. If they are running at a venue near you then please go and cheer them on, if you can't make it then leave a message on their Just Giving page.
The Canterbury 10 Mile Road Race will take place on Sunday 29th January 11am at the Chaucer Technology School. This will be race number twelve in a year, a phenomenal achievement for our champion runners. To follow Jules and Steve's progress visit their webpage at
http://mrsaactionuk.net/julesnsteve.html
MRSA Action UK
on 29th January 2012
On the 29th January 2012 Jason Kallis will be competing in the "Tough Guy" charity run/assault course to raise money for charities combating MRSA type bugs, and making operations safer in this country, and elsewhere. If you would like to sponsor Jason please click on the following link and then scroll down and click on the "Donate" button: http://www.justgiving.com/teams/Jason-and-Chris
The Tough Guy Event is an 8 mile assault course that includes obstacles designed to test your nerve and endurance. It's no walk in the park - apart from being soaked in a river and several ponds during the extreme cold we must get over or run through 40 foot 'A' frames, electrified barriers, fields of fire, and long sewer pipes (you have to crawl through them as well as over them unfortunately). For more details and videos of past Tough Guy events visit http://www.toughguy.co.uk/
The two charities we are supporting are:
MRSA Action UK and The Mercy Ships organisation (see http://www.mercyships.org.uk - a charity that supports people with no access to medical care in the third world.
Funds raised will split equally between the charities, and the money raised for Mercy Ships will be distributed by Jason's local church, as they are affiliated with the charity
Monday 30th January 2012
Isle of Man
16th Infection Prevention & Control Conference
This educational event for healthcare staff on the Island is attended by a mix of professionals including nurses, care home staff, podiatrists, pharmacists, public health, occupational health and others. Derek Butler will present "Healthcare Infections, The Challenge Ahead" telling patient stories, what went wrong, how it went wrong and the effects this had on patients, families, colleagues and medical staff. We call this the "Ripple Effect". We also give accounts of what went right and the effect this has on all the people involved.
The presentation touches on what we face in the future if we fail to control infections not just in the hospital environment but in the community and the importance of Information, Communication and Education. This is not just about the medical staff in our hospitals, it is about the public, patients and their families playing their part in infection control.
The 50 minute presentation is interactive and delegates cannot fail to be moved to hear about the patients and the families affected.
Jules and Steve Owen, racing for MRSA Action UK
In The Hotel Olympia 10k, Docklands
9.30am Sunday 26th February 2012
Get set, for Sunday 26th February at Excel, London and a start time of 9.30 AM.
To follow Jules and Steve's progress in their second race this year visit their
webpage at http://mrsaactionuk.net/julesnsteve.html
Jules and Steve Owen, racing for MRSA Action UK
In The Bath Half Marathon
9.30am Sunday 11th March 2012
The Bath Half Marathon - or the 'Bath Half' as it is affectionately known, is one of the longest established and most popular city centre road events in the UK. It is also the largest charity fundraising event in the South West region, raising over 1.4 million pounds for charity last year alone. The race starts and finishes in Great Pulteney Street, in the heart of the World Heritage City of Bath.
Meet Derek Butler and delegates from MRSA Action UK at Gov Today's Conference:
Healthcare Associated Infections, evaluating progress: analysing the threats, 14th March 2012
Jules and Steve Owen, racing for MRSA Action UK
In The Brighton Marathon
9.00am Sunday 15 April 2012
The Brighton Marathon has accepted 18,000 entries this year, which puts the Brighton Marathon into the top 12 running events across the UK. To follow Jules and Steve's progress and see how they are doing with their challenge visit their webpage at http://mrsaactionuk.net/julesnsteve.html
Jules and Steve Owen, racing for MRSA Action UK
In The Southend Half Marathon
10.00am Sunday 10 June 2012
The Southend Half Marathon is a well established race and has attracted several hundred participants.
Edwina Currie, Patron MRSA Action UK, will speak at Gov Today's Conference: Reducing Infections, Improving Health Outcomes,
6th June 2012
Jules and Steve Owen, racing for MRSA Action UK
In The Great British 10k
9.35am Sunday 8 July 2012
The British 10K London Run is the UK's is staged on one of the world's greatest routes through the heart of central London. 25,000 runners fill the streets of the nation's capital and get the unique chance to run past many of the country's greatest landmarks including Big Ben, The London Eye, St Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square and Westminster Abbey. Abilities range from charity fundraisers and recreational runners right through to Olympic champions!
The 2012 event is staged just 19 days before the start of the Olympic Games and the excitement and buzz within London at this time should make for a truly special occasion and the best British 10k London Run in its 12 year history. This is a fantastic prelude for Jules and Steve, especially with Jules' GamesMaker role in the Olympics. To follow Jules and Steve's progress visit their webpage at
http://mrsaactionuk.net/julesnsteve.html
MRSA Action UK will attend Infection Prevention 2012 in Liverpool, courtesy of sponsors Molnlycke Healthcare, 1st to 3rd October 2012
Jules and Steve Owen, racing for MRSA Action UK
In The Great South Run, Southsea, Portsmouth
10.00am Sunday 28 October 2012
The Great South Run is Europe's most popular 10 mile race and started life in Southampton back in 1990 before moving just a few miles along the M27 motorway to the neighbouring city of Portsmouth 12 months later. World cross country champion Joseph Ebuya produced the fastest 10-mile run ever seen in the UK in the 2010 event, so Jules and Steve are following in the footsteps of champions. To follow our champions' progress visit their webpage at http://mrsaactionuk.net/julesnsteve.html
Adrian Darbyshire, who lost his very close friend Troy Eames in November 2002 to MRSA, is fundraising for MRSA Action UK in his memory. Every year Adrian attends a memorial event where close friends and family meet to celebrate Troy'slife. This year is the 9th year and Adrian wanted to announce a fund raising event that he plans doing in his honour to end next year on November 7th to raise money for our charity. This will mark the 10 year anniversary of his passing.
When Troy originally passed away Adrian gave up drinking alcohol for 6 months, raising almost 1,500 pounds which went towards Troy's grave stone, this time around he plans to do it for a whole year.
This will be challenging enough but it is something he wants to do in his memory and at the same time raise money for a cause that he has strong feelings about.
Troy Eames was only 23 when he went to hospital for treatment for an in-growing toenail. Sadly after picking up the MRSA infection he suffered kidney failure and a heart attack.
Troy Eames, who passed away on the 7th November 2002
To support Adrian you can visit his Justgiving page at:
http://www.justgiving.com/AD-Noboozeforayear
MRSA Action UK has joined JustGiving
If you think you can help then please get in touch to talk about getting involved, you may like to help with fundraising and raising awareness. You can do this by donating through Just Giving securely or by creating your own fundraising page or a page in memory of someone.
Just ten pounds could help to support people affected by MRSA or other infections by helping with advice and understanding from others who have been affected. It could also help to provide patient information leaflets, posters to raise awareness on how to prevent infections, leaflets and training materials for seminars, workshops and education events.
If you or someone you care about has been affected by a healthcare infection and you wish to discuss this with us, please contact us at info@mrsaactionuk.net
