LAST year this newspaper highlighted problems with hospital visitors and staff in Blackburn not cleaning their hands to stop the spread of the potentially deadly MRSA bug.

Our revelations brought a swift response from hospital officials who apologised for lapses and stepped up hygiene procedures to minimise the risks especially to the elderly.

Now we hear that dozens of patients have had operations cancelled or switched elsewhere after "foreign bodies" were found on a tray of surgical instruments forcing the closure of eight operating theatres at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

It is believed a water sterilisation unit used for both BRI and Queen's Park Hospital had failed.

Other hospitals in the region are helping to provide the necessary sterilisation facilities and some patients have been switched to private hospitals for non-urgent operations.

The speed with which the East Lancashire Hospitals Trust reacted when the problem was discovered is reassuring and commendable and shows that patients' welfare is a number one priority.

Now it is to be hoped that investigations are taking place into how and why the apparent failure occurred and that lessons will be learned to stop such a crippling problem happening again.