A Northumberland doctor has criticised health bosses who paid for cardboard nurses to promote hygiene at a time when GP services are facing cuts.
Dr Robert Lambourn, who works in Wooler, said he considered the move an inappropriate use of public cash.
But regional health bosses, who are spending £5m on a campaign to reduce the spread of MRSA, defended the move as potentially life-saving.
The cardboard cut-outs have been sent to surgeries and health centres.
'Good value'
Dr Lambourn said: "We are faced with possible cuts in our practice budgets and the district nurse service has already been cut to such an extent that patients are having to wait a month just to have their ears syringed.
"This just did not seem an appropriate use of budget at this time."
But Ian Dalton, from the North East Strategic Health Authority, said: "We are spending money because we want to keep patients safe.
"To anybody who might want to ask whether this is good value for money, I would say that if we can save just one person getting an unnecessary infection, then it is incredibly good value."
The regional campaign also includes TV and press adverts.
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