NURSING sick patients and mending computer networks are world's apart to most of us but a Southampton man was forced to make that change when he contracted a potentially fatal disease.

Simon Fraser, 26, from Woolston, caught the notorious MRSA bug during a routine back operation at Southampton General Hospital.

MRSA, which is present in 20 to 30 per cent of the general public, poses no risk to healthy humans. However, it can be fatal if contracted by the sick or infirm.

Simon was forced to give up his nursing job in a Hampshire-based private hospital for which he had spent four years in training. He spent eight months on sick pay, visiting the hospital weekly to be tested for the bug, but it never disappeared.

Despite having no physical symptoms, Simon was frequently turned down for jobs in nursing and care.

Two years later Simon's fortunes have changed. After retraining in computing he has established PC-ology, a computer trouble-shooting company in Upper Bannister Street, Southampton, complete with wireless broadband access, a console lounge and shop.

"It was devastating and very frustrating when I found out I had MRSA," said Simon.

"I felt a little run-down but other than that I felt fit and able to work.

"I could have moped around and felt sorry for myself but I had to come to terms with the fact that I might never get back into nursing.

"There are some similarities between nursing and what I do now. For example, I'm still providing a very high level of customer care.

"But fixing a personal computer is a lot easier than fixing a patient. With a PC you know it's going to be one of about ten things that's gone wrong - it's a little bit more tricky with a human being."