A confidential phone line has been set up at two hospitals to crack down on cases of MRSA and other highly infectious diseases.

Staff at East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust can call the Bugline to report cases where proper infection control measures are not being put into practice.

This can range from staff not cleaning their hands with gel to concerns about cleanliness and hygiene levels.

The aim is to reduce the number of patients developing an infection while staying at Eastbourne District General Hospital or the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards.

Trust lead infection control nurse Tina Lloyd said: "It is part of a number of initiatives to help the trust engage all staff at every level in fighting infection in our hospitals.

"As part of our zero tolerance campaign being introduced this month all grades of staff are being asked to challenge any area of poor practice.

"We need to identify where problems are to improve standards but more importantly, staff need a safe way to be able to report cases without the fear of retribution.

"The aim is to improve the standards patients can expect to receive and ensure they will receive them throughout the trust."