The family of a pensioner who died of MRSA only found out she had the superbug after reading her death certificate.

Karen and Amanda Weller said the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton kept their mother Pamela's condition from them and even moved her from a private room to an open ward where the infection could spread.

Mrs Weller, 69, who had moved to Sussex from the USA, was undergoing treatment following surgery on a broken hip.

Karen said: "We didn't actually know she had MRSA until we got the death certificate but the conditions were appalling compared to hospitals in the US.

"We were surprised they moved her because of the risk of infection. She had an open wound because they were draining fluid from her hip.

"She was so sick but still the doctors didn't mention MRSA at all. We are in shock."

Mrs Weller suffered from the rare protein disorder amyloidosis and had returned to Britain to receive specialist treatment after 40 years living in America.

She broke her hip in a fall at her home in Glynde Close, Newhaven, and underwent surgery in July. She returned to the Royal Sussex at the end of October after suffering complications.

She was placed in a private room but then moved to an open ward, where she died on November 10.

Six months ago, The Argus reported the case of Jennie Nicol, whose mother Joan Oborne died of MRSA at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

Mrs Nicol and her family were also not told of Mrs Oborne's MRSA until they read her death certificate.

Both hospitals are run by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Mrs Nicol said: "I'm absolutely flabbergasted to hear this. I know from my own experience that it's such an awful way to find out. My heart goes out to the family.

"This is a dreadful way to treat relatives ofpatients. They just don't seem to be making any progress."

According to Mrs Weller's death certificate, she died after suffering MRSA as well as a chest infection and amyloidosis.

But her family said she was healthy until she checked into the Royal Sussex.

They had been told by doctors at University College Medical School, London, she had "a good ten years to live".

Karen said: "We all think mum would still be here if she hadn't caught it. "The cleanliness and organisation at the hospital were bad.

"My mum had an intravenous line that was weeping and I checked it and found her sheets were all wet - even the blankets underneath. I wanted to make her warm but I couldn't because the bed was too wet.

"I was shocked by the hygiene of the whole ward. Back home we have to clean and disinfect everything so you don't transfer germs.

"You couldn't do that here because there was so much junk piled up everywhere.

"The staff were beautiful. I just felt sorry for them working in those conditions."

A year ago Mrs Weller's sister-in-law, Jeanette Lambert, of Hazel Close, Newhaven, also contracted MRSA at the Royal Sussex.

Amanda, 23, said she was now "terrified" to go back to the hospital and fears she may have to move back to the US rather than risk knee surgery planned for March.

Karen said most Americans have never heard of MRSA.

Her family had to search the internet to find details of the superbug.

She said: "It's very, very rare out there. I'm surprised by the scale of the problem.

"My father is distraught. The day before she got really ill they told her she could go home soon.

"It would have been her 50th wedding anniversary next month. He thought she was coming home."

The family are considering making an official complaint.

A hospital spokeswoman said: "The trust is aware that it has much to do to reduce the rate of MRSA infections in our hospitals and this is a top priority for the organisation.

"We would like to offer our condolences to Mrs Weller's family.

"If they have any issue they wish to take up with us about the quality of care or the ward environment, they can formally complain and we will investigate their concerns and respond."