A FAR-reaching hygiene survey has been carried out throughout hospitals across Morecambe Bay in a bid to stamp out the hospital superbug - MRSA.

A team of volunteers from the Patient and Public Involvement Forum North West have put 35 hospitals across the region under scrutiny to help tackle the rise in hospital acquired infections and increase local understanding of the MRSA superbug.

MRSA or Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus is an antibioticresistant organism that can cause serious problems in vulnerable patients.

The teams visited Westmorland General Hospital, Kendal, The Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Furness General Hospital, Barrow.

PPI Forum spokesperson Annelies Boak, one of the team inspecting Westmorland General, explained how the Bug watch' questionnaire examined all aspects of hospital hygiene from waste disposal to staff cleanliness.

She said: "We look at the aspects of the issue from the point of view of the patients or the public. It is a common sense approach."

When completed, the surveys will be analysed by the Patient and Public Forum North West. The forums will then work with health trusts to pursue any areas where improvements are needed.

Paul Saddall, Regional Manager for CPPIH said: "MRSA is a high profile issue that concerns us all and the Bug Watch survey is a real opportunity for PPI forums to make a real difference in the region."

Although the findings are yet to be published, Mrs Boak said that the team was impressed with the levels of awareness among staff at the hospital of how the bug could be spread. She said: "In the wards we visited, the nurses changed their shoes before entering and on one, the nurses did change their uniforms and use alcohol disinfectant on their hands. This isn't general policy but it was good practice."

Members of the public are also to be given the opportunity to help highlight aspects of the system that need improving.

Mrs Boak said: "We would be interested in finding out how the public feel about visitors coming into the hospital and off and on to the ward. The more information we can get from patients and the public the better it is for the service. A lot of people have strong views about hospital hygiene and it would be good to hear their suggestions."

If you have any comments or suggestions about hospital hygiene standards, please call Sasima at PPI Kendal on 01539-742627 or Zoe at PPI Barrow on 01229-823144.