MID Beds MP Nadine Dorries is calling for the Government to tackle the spread of the hospital superbug MRSA. During a House of Commons debate last week on the Health Bill, she proposed an amendment to prevent nurses travelling to and from work wearing uni

MID Beds MP Nadine Dorries is calling for the Government to tackle the spread of the hospital superbug MRSA.

During a House of Commons debate last week on the Health Bill, she proposed an amendment to prevent nurses travelling to and from work wearing uniforms.

Ms Dorries, who is a former nurse, said: "MRSA rates have doubled since 1997 and there is a belief there is an under-reporting of cases."

She said there was a belief that uniforms were designed to protect staff from patients when they actually had the opposite function, adding that up to a quarter of MRSA cases reached hospitals from external sources such as uniforms.

She also put forward an amendment that instructions for washing uniforms should be made available to all staff, allowing nurses to fulfil their role of protecting the public from viruses and bacteria.

Mrs Dorries added: "Would it not be easy and cost-effective, and would it not save lives, if notices in utility rooms and staff cloakrooms stated the correct washing instructions for nurses' uniforms?"

The amendments will next be considered when the Health Bill comes up before the House of Lords.