Hospital cleanliness is top priority, says health secretary

The top priority for the NHS's new chief nursing officer will be to tackle hospital cleanliness, MRSA and other hospital infections, Health secretary John Reid has said.

The health secretary was speaking on the day that the new Matron's Charter was launched – a "no nonsense" guide setting out how senior nurses should set hygiene standards.

It sets out the demands each matron will make of her ward staff to ensure a culture of cleanliness. This will include ensuring all staff receive training in infection control and withhold payment for cleaning services that fail to come up to scratch.

England's new chief nursing officer, Chris Beasley, has been told by the health secretary that her first concern must be to "ensure all NHS hospitals come up to the standards of the best" when it comes to cleanliness and infection control.

Mr Reid added: "Everyone has a role to play - hospital cleaners are as important as consultants when it comes to these issues. Nurses, doctors and other staff are in the front line of this struggle, and I am determined hospital managers and my department give them the support they need."

Chris Beasley said: "Matrons must lead by example and by making changes when things aren't up to scratch. This charter gives a common sense approach to improving the environment in hospitals."

The Matron's Charter: An Action Plan for Cleaner Hospitals was drawn up by the Department of Health working with the Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Midwives, Infection Control Nurses Association, Hospital Infection Society, Healthcare Facilities Management Association, Association of Domestic Managers, and Unison.

(gmcg/mb)