A MAJOR cleanliness blitz has swung into action at Southampton General, the Royal South Hants and Princess Anne hospitals this week to encourage staff, patients and visitors to do their bit.

The move comes after figures showed cases of potentially fatal superbugs have risen substantially.

A report by the National Audit Office in July revealed the number of hospital acquired MRSA infections at Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust had risen from 53 cases in 2002-03 to 62 in 2003-04 - a rise of 17 per cent.

Now nurses are leading the battle to improve cleanliness and hygiene at the city's three main hospitals. Activities going on as part of the week-long campaign include:

Badges for staff reminding them to wash their hands - and red cards for patients to flash if they don't

Bedside locker posters to enable patients to challenge staff to wash their hands before and after attending to them

Patient questionnaires

Each member of staff to thoroughly clean one piece of furniture or equipment

A group of sisters and charge nurses responsible for inspecting and challenging untidiness and poor hand hygiene

Hand hygiene promotion, including displays in each staff dining area

Jan Westbury, senior infection control nurse, said: "It is something positive to try to engage all staff, patients and visitors in taking responsibility in keeping their hospitals clean and tidy."