The county's mental health trust has been highlighted for failing to deep clean all its hospitals to meet a Government deadline.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson's programme to combat bugs like MRSA and Clostridium difficile should have been finished by the end of March.

But in a statement to MPs today Mr Johnson said nine trusts - including Oxford and Buckinghamshire Mental Health Trust - had still not completed the work.

Tonight, OBMH spokesman Christian Mayr said: "All our wards in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire met the deep clean target with one exception, a ward in Milton Keynes, for which we were granted an extension by the Strategic Health Authority.

"We will finish the deep clean of the outstanding ward on May 16. The dispensation was given as the ward is in the middle of building works, and the deep clean work would have had to be repeated after the building work is complete.

"We did not want to waste taxpayers' money or disrupt our patients unnecessarily."

Mr Johnson insisted the remaining hospitals should be finished by the end of next month. He said: "There are valid reasons for trusts to complete after March 31, such as significant refurbishments or reasons relating to patient safety."

Critics have claimed the programme would have no lasting impact. Mr Johnson said: "Deep cleaning will be included in inspection programmes from next year.

"We will also publish best practice guidance."