HOSPITAL infections have shot up in Merseyside during the last two years according to new data.

Figures from the NHS Information Centre show 884 Liverpool cases of hospital bugs in 2010-11, compared to just 366 in 2008-9.

In Sefton there were 376 cases in the last year and 140 in 2008-9. And in Wirral 172 cases were seen in 2010-11, compared to 48 two years previously.

The Department of Health (DoH) last night said the figures were “misleading”.

A spokesman for the DoH claimed the increase was down to more accurate reporting of cases.

The figures include most but not all infections caught in hospital.

C difficile and MRSA are included along with newer bugs that hospitals have yet to get to grips with.

Other illnesses like norovirus and E.coli are also taken into account.

MRSA and C Diff rates are recorded by Government and have dropped in many hospitals according to Health Protection Agency (HPA) figures.

But other infections are not subject to stringent Government targets.

The figures represent patients from each Primary Care Trust (PCT) area and not where the sufferers were treated.

But most would not be seen far from their homes.

The Royal Liverpool Hospital said it was working hard to reduce infections and said rates for C Diff and MRSA had dropped significantly in the last four years.

The hospital has introduced the deep cleaning of wards and also increased training for staff.

Diane Wake, director of infection prevention and control, said: “We have put in place extremely high and thorough standards of infection prevention and control at our hospitals.

This has significantly contributed to the decrease in the number of infection cases (C Diff and MRSA).

“These standards have been recognised by the PCT, who have awarded us with the annual Patient Safety Award for the second time.”

There have been several norovirus outbreaks in Merseyside hospitals during the last two years, including cases at Arrowe Park and Fazakerley.

A DoH spokesman said:“The NHS has got better and better at tackling hospital infections, demonstrated by the record lows we have seen this year.

“Because we are not complacent, we have introduced mandatory reporting of more hospital infections.

“That means that we have shone a light on the problems previously swept under the carpet.”

Trish Bennett, Director of Service Improvement and Executive Nurse, for NHS Merseyside added: “NHS Merseyside takes a serious stance to tackling health care associated infections like MRSA and C difficile.

“We have requested data from our providers on all causes of infection and this data will be used in 2012-13 to target areas of concern.”