NHS looks abroad to fight MRSA

Experts from abroad are to help the NHS in its battle against hospital superbugs.

Health Secretary John Reid outlined moves to cut hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA and improve hygiene standards.

He said he wanted to see "the best in the world" brought to Britain to combat the problem. Control would be passed to frontline ward staff and patients encouraged to speak out if they thought hygiene standards were slipping.

Dr Reid told GMTV that checks were needed to make sure that where services had been contracted out, cleanliness had not been sacrificed for cheapness.