Cash boost for superbug fight

A blitz on deadly hospital superbugs in Stafford and Cannock has been given a welcome cash boost.

The Stafford League of Hospital Friends handed over a £1,000 donation to help in the war on infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C.diff).

It will go towards work by Mid Staffordshire General Hospitals NHS Trust in Staffordshire General and Cannock Chase Hospitals.

The cash comes ahead of the launch of the "Hands up for the Cleanest Hospital", scheme aimed at stamping out the spread of infections in the two hospitals.

Plans for the renewed bug-busting drive and public awareness campaign were revealed after the two hospitals saw more than 200 superbug cases so far this year.

The latest hospital figures showed there were 199 cases of C.diff between January and August this year, compared to 416 between January and December 2006.

There were 10 recorded cases of MRSA from April to August this year, compared to 25 between April last year to March this year.

The trust has been awarded £212,000 by the Department of Health to build up its arsenal of weapons against the spread of infections, on top of £100,000 extra already invested by the trust itself.

Steam cleaning machines to decontaminate clinical equipment are being bought and there will be a pilot project testing out disposable equipment in isolation rooms. The £1,000 cheque – part of the proceeds from the league's annual May Ball – was handed over by league chairman Colin Wilkinson to hospitals trust chairman Toni Brisby.