HEALTH watchdogs are to meet hospital bosses after a 'bug watch' on wards across East Lancashire raised "some concerns".

Members of the area's Patients Forum took part in a national survey of hospital wards last week, visiting wards within hospitals operated by the East Lancashire NHS Trust.

The national sweep was arranged amid growing fears about the presence of the Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) superbug in hospitals.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph revealed earlier this month that around 100 hospital patients contracted the bug last year.

Forum inspectors checked various aspects of ward hygiene, including how often ward staff washed their hands.

Mollie Manthorpe, chairman of the East Lancashire NHS Trust Patients Forum, said: "Overall, everything seemed to be in order and staff were certainly aware of the need to continually wash their hands. Not doing so is one of the easiest ways to pass on something like MRSA. But we do have some concerns about what we saw, primarily in certain machinery not working, which would assist in preventing bugs.

"We are planning to meet with Trust officials to discuss what we found, and what action needs to be taken.

"Tackling bugs such as MRSA is as much about basic hygiene as powerful antibiotics. Prevention is better than cure. Staff were very co-operative and we would like to thank the Trust for that."

At a recent meeting of the Trust board, chairman Christine Kirk said: "We are happy to co-operate with the checks."

On Monday, the Evening Telegraph revealed how a check of hospital beds in three hospitals in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, led to a third of mattresses being replaced immediately because they were too wet, too hard or smelly.