The Bury St Edmunds hospital found MRSA on the skin of two babies in the SCBU unit during routine screening of vulnerable patients on Tuesday.

Leah Thompson, 17, who gave birth to her son Ashtyn 14 weeks early on October 8, has been told he must stay in a hospital in Kent as SCBU cannot accept him.

Leah was airlifted to the William Harvey Hospital, in Ashford, when she went into labour 26 weeks into her pregnancy, as a special care bed was not available locally.

She must now wait until another bed can be found for the tot in the region or until West Suffolk SCBU reopens.

Leah, of St Edmunds Road, Stowmarket, said: "I was worried about MRSA when they told me because I thought they were going to send him there.

"I want him home as soon as possible but I would rather he stays where he is safe."

She is currently travelling 123 miles to see her son at weekends,

When on the skin, the MRSA infection can be harmless, it is only when it is transferred into the bloodstream through any wounds that it becomes potentially very serious.

Staff in the unit are treating the two babies with creams and body washes to remove the infection and will re open the unit in due course.

Dr Caroline Barker, infection control doctor at West Suffolk Hospital, said: "We have found MRSA sitting harmlessly on the skin of two babies in the special care baby unit.

"There is no immediate risk to them or other babies on the special care baby unit and our infection control practices are designed to prevent it spreading.

"This is exactly why we always stress how important it is for staff, visitors and patients to clean their hands when visiting the hospital with the alcohol gels provided."

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