Liz Lynne MEP to officially open health care exhibition.

3.33.22pm GMT Wed 7th Jan 2009

Date: Wednesday 7th January 2009

Time: 16:00

Venue: Espace Bar, 3rd Floor, European parliament Building, Brussels.

LibDem/ ALDE MEP Liz Lynne will today officially open the Health First Europe exhibition on 'The Future of Healthcare in Europe' in the European Parliament.

Liz, who is Vice- President of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee and Co-Chair of MEPs against Cancer, is hosting the week long event that will cover a range of topics including Healthcare Associated Infections (such as MRSA), needlestick injuries and patient rights in relation to cross border healthcare.

Health First Europe is a non- profit organization made up of patients, healthcare professionals and medical academics and experts. They are focused on ensuring that every European citizen is entitled to the very highest standards of healthcare possible.

Speaking before today's event Liz Lynne said:

"Health First Europe is a hugely important organisation doing good work in helping represent the opinions and needs of patients, healthcare professionals and medical academics and experts from across the European Union.

"I am very pleased to be sponsoring the exhibition and I hope that it will have a significant impact in helping raise awareness of the important issues affecting healthcare in Europe.

"Whilst healthcare is not a direct competence of the EU, nor in my opinion should it be, it is crucial that all EU Member States continue to work together to improve healthcare in every European country and I hope that Health First Europe will continue to play a pivotal role in helping the EU in this endeavor."

Commenting on some of the topics the exhibition will examine Liz said:

"Healthcare Associated Infections such as MRSA and C. Difficile are still a major problem in many European countries, including the UK. If we are to tackle this issue and prevent some of the avoidable deaths from these infections then it is crucial we look at those EU countries, such as Sweden and Finland, who have had much greater success in stamping out these infections."

On needlestick injuries, which occur when a healthcare professional is accidentally pricked with a needle used on a patient, Liz said:

"It is unacceptable that an estimated 1 million healthcare professionals in the EU are victims of needlestick injuries each year. Medical staff already work in very difficult circumstances without having to run the risk of contracting diseases such as Hepatitis C or HIV. "