Hospitals praise infection blitz

Health officials have said a scheme to cut infections at two Nottingham hospitals has proved successful.

The Queen's Medical Centre and City hospitals reported 41 fewer MRSA cases and 273 fewer Clostridium difficile cases over the past 12 months.

The hospitals have been taking part in the Hand in Hand initiative to cut the spread of infection.

The NHS says it has led to £3.5m in savings across the East Midlands and made more beds available.

Nottingham University Hospitals Trust said regular hand washing and intensive deep cleaning had all helped to control the spread of the infection.

Senior infection control nurse, Natalie Vaughan, said: "Infection prevention control is everyone's responsibility - every member of staff, visitors and patients.

"The most important action is that everybody cleans their hands and that's what we've been targeting.

"I think the message is getting across but we mustn't be complacent, we need to remember that infections need to be prevented and never ever take our eye off the ball."

The trust said it costs between £4,000 and £10,000 to treat a patient with MRSA or Clostridium difficile.

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Officials say handwashing is a crucial part of the scheme