NORTH Cumbria’s hospitals have recorded their lowest ever rates of the superbug Clostridium difficile (C. diff).

There were 22 cases of the infection between April 2018 and March 2019 - the lowest number since records began in 2007.

It is also below a target rate of 24 cases.

Bosses at North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary and Whitehaven’s West Cumberland Hospital, have put it down to collaborative working to prevent the spread of infection.

Its infection prevention and control team has been working closely with all staff to ensure hand hygiene is a real priority.

Matron Nicola O’Reilly said: “This has been a fantastic team effort from absolutely everyone who works in our hospitals; nurses, doctors, cleaners, porters, healthcare assistants and many more. It really demonstrates our trust value of collaboration.”