A HOSPITAL today defended itself following the death of a Hampshire pensioner who contracted the MRSA bug after a routine operation.

Grandfather of ten Donald Willis, 77, was admitted to Southampton General Hospital two months ago after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Doctors had discovered the disease at an early stage and Donald, who had previously been fit and healthy, was expected to make a full recovery. After successful surgery at the hospital, the retired bakery delivery driver was just starting to walk again when he contracted the potentially lethal bug.

MRSA - methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus - can cause fevers, blood poisoning and pneumonia if left untreated, and can kill people with weak immune systems or those with open wounds.

Donald, who lived with his wife Florence, 70, in Holbury Drove, Holbury, was treated in intensive care before being moved to a side room once the infection was discovered.

But his condition deteriorated, and he died on Friday, August 22.

Although the official cause of death was bronchio-pneumonia, renal failure and multi-organ failure, Donald's family have no doubt MRSA was the major factor.

His son Derek, 38, said: "My father was gaining strength before coming home when he got MRSA. From then, it was just downhill.

"It was only within the last few weeks that we were told he had got this virus. He was moved from pillar to post and no one attempted to let us know what was going on."

The father of five, of Hartsgrove Avenue, Blackfield, added: "Knowing what I know now about MRSA, I would have expected us to have been told not to touch him and wear protective clothing.

"My mother was holding his hand all the time and giving him a kiss and then walking away. We weren't made aware of any special needs at all.

"I am not bitter because my father has died, but I do feel his death was preventable. I am worried this is going to happen to someone else if things do not improve."

Southampton General Hospital spokeswoman Marilyn Kay insisted the hospital dealt firmly with cases of MRSA.

"We cannot comment on individual cases but would welcome the opportunity to discuss this case with the family," she said.

"The family have made no complaint about the treatment this patient has received.

"We have a very robust policy for treating MRSA, which includes a hand hygiene policy, where all clinical staff have a mandatory teaching session when they join the trust which is followed by regular refreshers. Cleanliness and hygiene are constantly under review.

"Unfortunately, MRSA does exist in hospitals, nursing homes and outside in the community, but it is something we fight aggressively."

In 1997, Winnifred Graves, of Maybush, died after becoming infected with a deadly strain of the bug at Southampton General Hospital, after a leg wound became infected. New hygiene rules were introduced in November 1999 in a bid to beat the bug.