PATIENTS are being urged to report healthcare workers who do not follow guidelines to help prevent the spread of potentially fatal superbugs.

Kath Roberts, nurse in charge of reducing infection for Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust, works throughout the borough to ensure everyone is doing their bit to reduce cases of MRSA and C-difficile.

She said that the fight was not just confined to hospitals as patients being treated in their own homes were just as much at risk, and any infections they have developed can easily be transmitted to the hospital if procedures are not followed.

The bacteria which causes MRSA is present on every-one's skin. Kath said anyone being treated at home should ensure that all the right precautions are being taken.

Patients with concerns about staff not following guidelines should pass them on to the patient liaison service, she said.

Kath's team works with patients, medical teams, schools and residential homes to keep risks as low as possible.

Last year, it launched the "clean your hands" campaign, aimed at staff, patients and relatives in community healthcare, in line with hospitals and PCTs throughout the country.

Kath said: "People know the messages and know it's really important to make sure health workers wash their hands and wear aprons and gloves.

"They are simple steps but they can make the difference between a quick recovery and a nasty infection outbreak, and people should register any concerns they have with their patient liaison service.

"What I do is to make sure that's always at the front of people's minds and make sure no one's afraid to pick people up on it if they don't see it being done properly.

"Quite often I get people, both staff and patients, ringing me to ask my advice.

"Despite our efforts, some people do contract things like MRSA, and they can go home while they recover, but relatives and carers often need the reassurance of everything they need to do to go and see them safely.

"I think people are a lot more confident now to question things, and we encourage patients to do that."

Patient advice and liaison services for both Blackburn with Darwen PCT and East Lancashire PCT can be contacted on 0845 6031 068.