INFECTION control experts in Dorset have welcomed the latest national drive to cut hospital-acquired infections.

Health Secretary John Reid has unveiled a "matron's charter", designed to encourage all staff to share responsibility for stopping the spread of bugs such as MRSA.

He announced that nurses would become more involved in drawing up cleaning contracts and has made the job of enforcing the charter a priority for the new chief nursing officer, Chris Beasley.

Dr Bill Gransden, director of infection prevention control at the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals Trust, said: "We welcome it. We are already moving towards much greater responsibility for our senior nurses in maintaining day-to-day cleanliness on their wards.

"Clearly it's a multi-disciplinary project with nurses and cleaners being central to it, but cleanliness is the responsibility of everybody in the hospital. It's recognised that not all infections can be eliminated, but a third can be prevented."

Gwen Walker, senior infection control nurse at Poole Hospital, said: "We are steadily making headway. I don't think there's any doubt that people are getting the message. Our staff are going to be the strongest force in breaking the chain of infection.

"The message here is quite clear: infection control is everybody's business. No one aspect of care can be delivered without being aware."

Ms Walker described hand hygiene as the "cornerstone of infection control". The trust aims to have alcohol hand wash gel at the end of every patient's bed by January next year.

First published: Oct 25