New screening scheme to cut MRSA

All in-patients are to be screened for MRSA at two hospitals in Middlesbrough and North Yorkshire.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust board has voted to pilot the scheme on some wards from September.

It will then be rolled out to all in- patients at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and the Friarage in Northallerton by March.

The screening programme could be widened to include emergency admissions by 2011.

It is estimated the initial programme will cost up to £800,000 in the first three years of implementation.

The trust spokeswoman said a decision not to go ahead with the scheme would have resulted in a failure to comply with the Department of Health's code of practice.