QUEEN'S SPEECH - SMOKING & MRSA: THE showpiece health legislation in this parliament is likely to be a Health Improvement and Protection Bill which will ban smoking in enclosed public spaces.
It will also include key measures to combat MRSA and improve hospital hygiene.
On Sunday health secretary Patricia Hewitt said that ministers were considering whether it was necessary to make hospitals criminally liable to force them to face up to the threat of infections.
She said: "We can't have a situation where we've got tougher hygiene laws and standards in food factories than we have for people who are seriously ill."
Currently no-one is responsible for deaths from MRSA or similar infections.
It is not known whether powers to prosecute hospital authorities will be included in this Bill.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article