SUGGESTIONS of a cover up by Ipswich Hospital after a Suffolk baby died at just 36 hours old were today brushed aside.

A CORONER today concluded that a baby from Woodbridge died 36 hours after being born as a result of contracting the deadly super bug MRSA.

Luke Day is thought to be the youngest victim of the bug. He died at Ipswich Hospital on February 2, 2005.

An inquest at Endeavour House in Ipswich heard hospital staff had missed signs which should have shown them that the baby was sick.

However, suggestions of a cover up by the hospital after were today brushed aside.

Relatives of Luke were given the opportunity to question medical experts at an inquest into his death.

He was thought to be the country's youngest victim of the superbug, but a huge inquiry into the death could not confirm it was the cause.

Luke's father Kevin Fenton raised concerns at the inquest about why rooms where Luke was treated were cleaned before swabs were taken.

He also questioned why swabs were only taken in some rooms, and not from the entire ward.

However, after listening to evidence from two consultant microbiologists, Greater Suffolk coroner Peter Dean said: “I can't see any evidence from here of anything sinister going on.”

Microbiologist Richard Kent, from Ipswich Hospital, said there was a delay in the death and swabs being taken because at first there was no suggestion of MRSA. He said the sites sampled were the sites where Luke had been cared for.

Dr John Hartley, a microbiologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where the post mortem was carried out, said it was normal procedure to clean rooms between patients, and there would be greater concern if rooms were not cleaned.

Another relative questioned the procedure when Luke's mother, Glynis Day, had an eclamptic fit.

He said perhaps the crash team called in to help her failed to wear sterile gloves because they were in a hurry.

Mr Kent said staff receive training on keeping an environment sterile, but he could not say what had happened on the day as he was not there.

The inquest was told that a pathologist had found MRSA in Luke's lungs, heart and spleen.