Bug czar quits on a high as cases halved

LONDON'S superbug czar is stepping down, having more than halved infection rates in the capital's hospitals.

Colin Ovington, who was brought in last year, said: "I feel very privileged to be leaving on a high. I live in Derbyshire and have been commuting for six hours on a daily basis. That is how important I felt this agenda was."

NHS London figures out today show rates of Clostridium difficile have dropped by 47 per cent in the past year, with 993 people infected compared with 1,860. MRSA is down 68 per cent since records began four years ago, with 133 people infected compared with 420.

Mr Ovington said the cut in superbug rates means there will be more beds available in hospitals.

A spokesman for NHS London said: "We will replace Colin, but he will be a hard act to follow. A lot of the improvement is down to him."

Mr Ovington is to be director of nursing at Bedford PCT.