A major conference is being held on Friday to help in the fight against infections.

Almost 300 doctors, nurses, therapists, patients and other health professionals from across the North-East will attend the Working Together - Winning Ways conference, which has been organised by the Infection Prevention and Control Team at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust.

It will take place at the Samsung Conference Centre in Wynyard.

Speakers will include Judy Potter, director of infection prevention and control at Royal Devon and Exeter Foundation Trust, one of the pilot sites for the national Clean Your Hands campaign.

Other topics include Operation Magpie, a recent emergency planning exercise undertaken in Newcastle by the Health Protection Agency, experiences of infection control in Iraq, hospital hygiene and MRSA, which includes the experiences of a patient.

There will also be a number of exhibitions highlighting the importance of reducing infections and promoting best practice.