CLAIMS that there have been nearly 200 cases of MRSA at Swindon's Great Western Hospital have been rubbished as political scaremongering.

Letters posted to residents in Swindon from Conservative leader Michael Howard claimed the hospital had 197 cases of the superbug last year.

But Paul Bentley, the director of human resources at GWH, said the real figure from April 2004 to March 2005 was only 23.

He said: "There is a need for us to inform and educate the public so that they know what the situation really is.

"It's 23. Would we like it to be less? Yes. Are we working hard to reduce it? Yes. Is there a massive campaign across the hospital to combat it? Yes."

To tackle the problem, the GWH has introduced alcohol hand gel at the entry to each ward and at the end of every bed.

Staff, patients and visitors are all encouraged to use it and some members of staff carry it around with them.

Mr Bentley said: "We are not complacent and we will continue to work hard to prevent infection.

"When you compare our levels they are lower than our neighbours and that's testimony to the hard work that has gone into the hospital."

Dr Peter Crouch, from Taw Hill surgery, said that he had received a phone call from a patient who was scared to go to the hospital after getting the Tory literature in the post.

He said: "This is irresponsible, politically-driven scaremongering.

"I had a patient who was due to go to hospital and when they got this in the post they rang me to ask if they should cancel their appointment.

"It causes real patient distress and it's upsetting for the people who are working hard to combat the problem.

"I would expect any party that plans to govern this country to be more responsible."

Anne Snelgrove, the Labour candidate for South Swindon, said: "The Tory MRSA figures are misleading and irresponsible and it's desperate measures from desperate people.

"The figures bear no relation to the Department of Health's official figures and have been plucked out of thin air.

"Sadly, they are causing increased anxiety among local people, especially those who use the NHS most the elderly."

Robert Buckland, the Conservative candidate for South Swindon, pictured, distanced himself from the national campaign and said it had been a mix-up.

He said: "As far as I'm concerned we haven't been criticising the hospital.

"I think the central party has apologised for any errors it has made. It's very regrettable that mistakes like this are made.

"Our local campaign is in no way designed to scare people."

Gareth Bethell