New policies and guidelines have been introduced to make sure the scrub-up message spreads throughout the whole of the health service in the Hartlepool and east Durham areas.

It's not just the job of hospitals to tackle MRSA, says Tricia Gordon, the infection, prevention and control specialist nurse for the primary care trusts on Teesside.

"Every health care facility is involved. Personal hand hygiene is paramount."

"We are a Tees-wide team and our key themes are education of all staff which includes PCT workers, GPs, medical surgeries and optometrists.

"We are looking at mandatory training in all aspects of infection prevention and control and the message is that it's everyone's responsibility to tackle infection."

Just as important is making sure all pieces of equipment are infection-free, says Tricia.

"We make sure that needles and syringes are disposed of properly. We ensure all equipment from weigh-in scales to stethoscopes are decontaminated."

Part of the campaign is to make sure the public also takes on the hygiene message.

Tricia added: "Part of the Scrub-Up campaign makes people aware about hand hygiene, and also allowing them to ask PCT staff 'have you washed your hands?'"

Tricia urged anyone with concerns or questions about MRSA to contact their GP or practice nurse.