A DROITWICH Spa man has told how his life has been "ruined" and how he "lost almost everything" after catching the deadly MRSA bug nine times.

Ken Sutton, from Teme Crescent, hit out at the state of hospitals in the area after losing his right knee following a hospital stay when he caught the superbug.

Mr Sutton was treated at Worcester Royal Infirmary in 2000 following an operation to rebuild his leg after a motorbike crash.

However, he claims that a combination of poor hygiene, miss management and bad training are all to blame for his suffering which has not only left him crippled for life, but brought an end to his marriage and left him unable to work.

Mr Sutton, 60, said: "I really want people to be aware of the problem. People should be cured when they go to hospital not come away with a deadly bug."

Following an unsuccessful first operation, doctors soon decided Mr Sutton needed to go under the knife again - it was then that he caught MRSA.

However, despite strong antibiotics the bug took hold meaning he needed eight more operations, resulting in him catching the bug another eight times. MRSA had got under the metal plates in his leg and caused swelling and great pain.

"I don't think people understand the amount of pain MRSA causes and what a sufferer goes through.

"There is the chance that it was the same bug reoccurring but they test you before you have an operation so I don't see how that could be the case. Even if it is, then what does that say about the state of health care?" Mr Sutton added.

He also said the circumstances put his marriage under strain because of how depressed he was as a result of the drugs he had to take.

"My ex-wife Lyn was fantastic, she has not left me because of my condition but the added pressure of what has happened has played its part. If it was not for her though I probably wouldn't even be here."

Even though Mr Sutton's final operation was carried out at the new £95million Worcestershire Royal Hospital he caught MRSA again. He has decided against suing the NHS because he can no longer afford the costs.

He is now determined to get on with his life, have a positive outlook and move forward from here.

A spokesman for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: "Mr Sutton commenced legal proceedings against the Trust, following which the Trust obtained independent expert evidence.

"This concluded that the care given to Mr Sutton was totally appropriate and all the correct MRSA screening procedures and hygiene measures were carried out by the Trust.

"Our infection control team works very closely with staff in all wards and departments to make sure that everything possible is being done to control infection."