Health trusts are to be set new objectives next year for reducing cases of MRSA infections The new targets will focus on those trusts that need to improve most.

They will come into force from April and will apply to all NHS organisations in an effort to ensure patients receive clean safe care across the whole service. In November 2004, the Department of Health set a national target of cutting MRSA bloodstream infections by half. The latest quarterly figures from the Department show that has been exceeded with a 76 per cent reduction across the country.

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A scheme to encourage children to walk to school has helped boost the number of pupils travelling on foot to schools taking part by almost a fifth according to an independent evaluation. Almost 2,000 schools have signed up to the WoW – Walk Once a Week – campaign run by the charity Living Streets.

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This programme is now available to view on localgov.tv the online television channel for public service modernisation. It describes how three councils are saving £1 million a year and improving service performance with a new revenue and benefits shared service delivered with partner Capita.

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