WIRRAL Hospital Trust's chief executive has agreed to consider ways to tackle patients' fears of catching an infection in hospital.

At the trust's annual general meeting at Arrowe Park Hospital last week, Liberal Democrat councillor for Prenton, Ann Bridson, raised questions about its infection controls policy.

Cllr Bridson said that many local residents were concerned about MRSA and other infections which they could contract in hospital despite the trust having one of the lowest rates of infection in the NHS. She said: "Perceptions of the levels of infection may not relate to the reality of the problem but it is nevertheless affecting confidence in the hospital as a safe place.

"The question I am asked most often is, how can the hospital be serious about controlling infection when hospital staff are regularly seen wearing their uniforms in supermarkets, in pubs and even when walking their dogs?"

Chief executive, Frank Burns agreed to investigate.