Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon announced that NHS Ayrshire & Arran and NHS Grampian would also take part in the MRSA screening programme as 'Pathfinder' health boards from April this year.

NHS Western Isles Nurse Director/Chief Operating Officer Gordon Jamieson stated: "NHS Western Isles is delighted to have been chosen to participate as a 'Pathfinder' Health Board in the pilot MRSA screening programme. Tackling healthcare associated infections and infection control remains a priority for the NHS system here in the Western Isles.

"This is a valuable opportunity to assist in testing the screening model for all our hospital patients, to learn lessons from that, and to help shape the final strategy for NHS Scotland to drive down the rates of Healthcare Associated Infection," he added.

The three boards together cover a population of almost one million and between them represent a diverse mix of urban, rural and island areas and include a range of different hospitals, from the smallest to large teaching hospitals.

The boards will be responsible for running a year-long programme of screening all hospital patients for MRSA, backed by £7million of new investment in 2008/09.

If successful, the pilot programme will lead to screening programmes being introduced in every health board from 2009/10.

Making the announcement, Ms Sturgeon said: "I am delighted to be able to announce that NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Western Isles and NHS Grampian are to host the MRSA screening pilot, marking a new era of action to tackle infections in Scottish hospitals.

"The screening programme will ensure that Scotland continues to lead the way in tackling Healthcare Associated Infections like MRSA.

"The pilots will be an exhaustive test of the screening model and will ensure that any necessary adjustments can be made before the programme is rolled out across Scotland," she said.