MRSA infection rates are highest in London

Patients are more likely to catch the superbug MRSA in a hospital in London than in any other part of the country.

A government report reveals that the number of infections in the capital is at least 12 per cent higher than the national average.

The Department of Health report comes amid evidence that hospitals are failing to meet targets to reduce rates of the antibiotic-resistant infection.

The report says part of the problem in London is that there are a large number of specialist hospitals but it also suggests that other hospitals are not working hard enough on hygiene.

The report into MRSA and regional differences said: "The most striking result concerns London, which consistently has higher rates of MRSA than all other strategic health authority regions, other things equal.

"This result suggest that high observed MRSA rates in London are not explicable simply on the basis of its concentration of tertiary hospitals [which provide complex care]."

Research shows that sicker patients are far more likely to be infected because they are weak and undergo more invasive operations.

But some of London's district general hospitals - not the big specialist teaching trusts - have the highest infection rates.

The trusts with the highest number of bugs per patient last financial year were Barnet and Chase Farm, Epsom and St Helier, the North Middlesex, North West London hospitals trust (including Northwick Park Hospital), the Hillingdon Hospital and the West Middlesex.

All had more than two infections per 10,000 bed days.

Infection rates at the Royal Free and Guy's and St Thomas' are also high, according to latest figures, but they admit more complex cases.

There has been an overall reduction in MRSA by 32 per cent in the past year, however the number of cases is still 26 per cent higher than the target.

Total infections of the bug have also risen in London since the first quarter of the year, when 237 people were hit.

Until two years ago, hospitals in London had rates of MRSA 22 per cent higher than the rest of the country but this has dropped to 12 per cent as trusts crack down.

Conservative health spokesman Andrew Lansley said this was still not good enough.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "It is important to bear in mind that MRSA rates are falling in London, so clearly patients are benefiting from better infection control and initiatives."

The report's findings come as a medical expert said the NHS was offering a very poor service meaning that older patients were more at risk of catching a superbug and said that government plans including a "deep clean" of hospitals were not enough.

Dame Betty Kershaw, the Emeritus Dean of Sheffield University School of Nursing and Midwifery, said: "The proposed 'deep clean' will be merely papering over the cracks.

"Cleaning staff need to be employed by the NHS, not contracted. We must return the power and control of nursing care to the ward sister if we are to improve standards."