REDBRIDGE'S hospital trust is failing to comply with Government standards for infection control, a report from the new healthcare regulator has found.

Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals Trust (BHRT) is one of 21 bodies that have been identified by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as not meeting expectations in dealing with infections including C.diff and MRSA.

The trust itself has admitted that it did not meet the appropriatate standards for healthcare associated infections (HCAI).

The CQC said the trust must ensure infected patients are moved to isolation more quickly and will monitor its progress until it comes up to scratch.

But a BHRT spokesman said: “The trust is among the best in the country for tackling hospital acquired infections.

"The conditions from the Care Quality Commission relate to having policies and documentation in place. The rates of MRSA and Clostridium difficile at our hospitals have been slashed by more than 70 per cent in recent years, putting us well within government targets.

“We have twice been recognised by the Department of Health for the good work taking place around infection control, and just last month won an award at the international HCAI Technology Innovation Summit.

“Last year we were named as the best organisation of its size for tackling C.diff, and the work carried out by our infection control team has been hailed as an example of best practice.”

The CQC reported that infection rates across the country are falling and praised the majority of trusts for their continued work in protecting patients.

Barbara Young, Chair of the CQC, said: "We know from recent decreases in rates of MRSA and Clostridium difficile that the picture on infection control is improving nationally.

“Most trusts have stronger systems to protect patients from infection than a few years ago, and trusts' boards are taking the challenges seriously. We commend them for that.”

The regulator has registered all trusts in England as care providers but 21 bodies including BHRT have conditions attached.

According to NHS statistics, there was less than one MRSA blood infection for every 10,000 bed days at King George's Hospital in Ilford.

The CQC is the new regulator for health, mental health and adult social care and came into being on April 1, replacing the Healthcare Commission, the Mental Health Act Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection.