Conquest cash boost

The cash is part of a 50million fund available to all hospitals in the country set aside to use for special equipment.

East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Conquest and Eastbourne DGH, intends to use the 300,000 towards building work and new cleaning equipment.

The organisation also wants to set up a new state-of-the-art electronic surveillance system to monitor patients in hospital with MRSA and other infections.

Tina Lloyd, lead nurse for infection control, said: "The trust has been working hard to tackle infections and we have introduced a number of initiatives to help us achieve that goal.

"The additional 300,000 cash injection will help us boost our infection control measures."

Both the Conquest hospital and Eastbourne's DGH have hand gel at the bedside and the entrance to all of their wards.

There are also posters on display to remind visitors and staff about the importance of cleaning hands.

The trust recently launched a new Bug Line for staff to report any issues relating to infection control.

The new cleaning equipment will include specially designed mops and steam cleaners to help remove bacteria from the hospital environment.

Money will also be used to improve isolation facilities for patients with infection.

Visitors can also help hospital staff to reduce the risk of infection by always cleaning their hands on arrival and departure from the ward, not sitting on the patient's bed, only bringing small flower arrangements in an oasis to help with cleaning around the bed side and only visiting patients if they themselves have not had any symptoms of infection, such as diarrhoea and vomiting, within a 48 hour period.