THE trust that runs Andover and Winchester hospitals has completed its deep clean programme and is just about to finish a major project to replace flooring.

Last month Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust reported an outbreak of the clostridium difficile superbug, which killed an elderly patient at Winchester.

The 78-year-old woman already had the bug when she was admitted to accident and emergency, but c-diff has been a contributory factor in the deaths of five patients at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital since April 2007.

But the trust acted quickly to tackle the outbreak and during the 2007/08 deep clean all the wards and many other areas across the trust have been intensively cleaned.

Deputy director of nursing Paula Shobbrook said: "We have a three-person team who will literally do a top to bottom clean and spend a whole week, if necessary, in each area."

In addition the carpet has been ripped up in the corridors and stairwells at the Royal Hampshire and is being replaced with hard-wearing and easy-to-clean vinyl flooring.

At the Andover War Memorial Hospital the deep clean team has completed work in Kingfisher ward, physiotherapy, the birth centre, X-ray, chiropody and the outpatients' department.

On top of the deep clean and carpet removal, the trust has totally refurbished four wards at Winchester, as well as providing a new and tailor-made site for breast screening.

Shawford ward will be refurbished in 2008/09 and the coffee lounge at Winchester will have a makeover.