Blanche Beynon had been waiting two years for an artificial knee

Blanche Beynon, 72, from Cardiff, had caught the bug twice before and thinks it was a factor in her husband's death.

She paid �7,500 to have the operation in Belgium instead.

Cardiff's Llandough Hospital - where she was due to have the surgery - said there were strict hygiene controls in place, but they could not give an absolute guarantee it was MRSA-free.

MRSA (Methecillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) causes an estimated 2,000 deaths in UK hospitals each year.

Mrs Beynon said she decided to go abroad for the operation last October "rather than risk dying at the hands of the NHS."

"I have 17 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren and wanted to live a bit longer to enjoy being with them," said the widow who lives at Pentyrch.

Her husband, 68-year-old Garfield, died six years ago of kidney failure, but Mrs Beynon, said she was told by the nurses that he had contracted the superbug.

Guarantee

"I'm certain it was a factor in his death," she said.

Mrs Beynon had been waiting two years for an artificial knee operation at Llandough Hospital in Cardiff.

She was "thrilled" to get the appointment but, after contracting mild cases of the superbug during two earlier stays in Llandough, she said she wanted an assurance that she would not be infected again.

"When I asked for a guarantee from a hospital manager she could not give it," said Mrs Beynon.

"I was so shocked that I told her I would not go ahead with the operation even though I needed it so badly. I was prepared to be lame for the rest of my life rather than risk picking up the bug again.

"It's a disgrace and a sad indictment of the NHS that they were not confident enough about cleanliness to give me the guarantee."

Garfield Beynon died six years ago

A spokesman for Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust said they had "strict controls to help prevent the spread of infection including MRSA at Llandough Hospital" in line with safety guidance.

That included MRSA screening of patients before admission and barrier nursing for any patient with MRSA.

"We also separate orthopaedic patients from those with medical conditions so that the risks of cross infection are minimised.

"We also ask visitors to wash their hands with a disinfectant gel," said the spokesman.

But he added that, while they did their best to prevent the spread of the infection, they were not able to give "an absolute guarantee".

Mrs Beynon had the operation at St Remberts Hospital in Torhout, Belgium.

"The actual surgery cost �6,900 - more than �3,000 less than it would have cost to go private in Britain - with the rest travelling and other expenses," she said.

"But it was well worth it to know that I was not in danger of contracting the superbug."