An elderly woman contracted MRSA while being treated for a broken ankle Mayday Hospital, it has been revealed.

The news of 89-year-old Amy Moncas’ infection comes in the same week that Mayday bosses revealed they are meeting waiting list targets.

Mrs Moncas is confined to her bed – three months after going to Mayday for treatment for a broken ankle.

Her family were informed last week that she had contracted the MRSA superbug.

Hospitals chiefs were unable to confirm whether Mrs Moncas was staying on an orthopedic ward on the newly-opened Jubilee wing, a building which was designed to reduce the risk of infection by having on-site surgeons.

A spokesman for Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust said cases of MRSA has fallen at Mayday since 2003 and that it had the lowest rate of the superbug in south-west London.

He added: “If we have failed to maintain that standard we would like to know, so that we can apologise and put right any failings.

“Everyone who uses Mayday Hospital is responsible for reducing the rate of infection. Staff, patients and visitors all have a role to play.” Alcohol gel for staff and visitor hand-washing is widely available throughout the hospital and there has been a concerted campaign aimed at staff and the public.

Between April 2003 and September 2004, 72 cases of MRSA were recorded at Mayday compared with 163 in the same period at Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals’ Trust.

Meanwhile, waiting list times have been successfully reduced to meet Government targets.