Debt-free trust funds MRSA fight

A primary care trust that paid off its inherited debt is to contribute £1.75m to a 22-bed ward to combat infections like MRSA and Clostridium difficile.

Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT is making £5m available for local projects including the new ward at the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston.

Other local projects include £1.145m for NHS dentistry and £167,677 on touchscreens at all 26 GP practices.

The PCT inherited a debt of about £10m when established in October 2006.

Mike Stonard, chief executive, said the additional spending this year was made possible by the PCT paying off this debt.

"What is particularly gratifying about this extra investment is that it has been influenced by members of the public who told us the sort of services they wanted during our Healthier Future consultation last year.

"This additional spending also fits in with the vision for the NHS that the health minister Lord Darzi set out in July."