The story of Razvana Ali and her baby daughter, Marwha, who both became infected with MRSA, raises serious concerns. The very mention of the so-called superbug will worry those who have loved ones in hospitals or who are patients themselves.

Razvana contracted the infection following Marwha's birth by Caesarean section at Bradford Royal Infirmary and the young mum first became concerned for her new daughter a short time later. It must be acknowledged, however, that no-one can be certain whether the bug came from Razvana herself, on her skin for example, or whether she picked it up in hospital.

In one sense, though, it should not matter, for it seems reasonable to expect that our health professionals should be alive to both possibilities and be able to take the appropriate action to prevent people becoming infected. Yet the figures for MRSA and other similar infections would suggest that this is not always the case, with the problem far from under control, let alone eradicated.

If there are gaps in procedure, they need to be plugged quickly and those responsible taken to task. The public expects and deserves nothing less.

If, however, every hygiene measure is being adhered to and every best practice' practised, then perhaps it is time for further steps to be taken - with wider screening of patients on admission to our hospitals and better initial hygiene controls a possibility.