A drastic shake-up of wards at Dudley’s Russells Hall Hospital will be introduced in a last-ditch attempt to hit infection targets.

Eleven wards at the hospital will be re-organised as part of a drive to reduce cases of contagious diseases such as MRSA.

The hospital is failing to meet NHS targets for the deadly infection for the third year running.

Changes will begin tomorrow, dividing patients into those who have been pre-screened for infections and those who are admitted to hospital in an emergency.

Previously, patients who fall into both categories may have been treated on the same ward .

Since the beginning of the year, patients attending planned procedures have been tested for MRSA before they go into hospital.

The reshuffle, which should be completed by next Friday, will ensure they are treated in separate locations to people who have been rushed in and may be carrying infections. Chief executive of the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Paula Clark said the cost of the ward changes could not be disclosed.

The trust is yet again struggling to achieve its national targets for MRSA, with seven cases reported between April and October.