GREAT Western Hospital has welcomed a new 10-point code asking all NHS patients to provide their own soap and toiletries as it will help fight infection.

The Patients' Associ-ation has produced the code in efforts to create cleaner hospitals and reduce the risks from hospital-acquired infections.

The code, revealed by Nursing Standard magazine, says patients should arrange for relatives to wash their nightwear while they are in hospital.

It also says that patients should ask staff and visitors "have you washed your hands?"

GWH spokesman Chris Birdsall said even though the code was basic commonsense it was good hygiene practice.

"Anything which can help reduce the spread of infection has to be a good thing," he said.

"Hygiene in hospital is a big issue at the moment particularly with the whole issue around certain hospital-acquired infections.

"We already take this very seriously and we have an excellent infection control team, some of whom lecture abroad about our practices."

Mr Birdsall said the GWH had a wide range of measures in place to tackle infection, including badges worn by staff asking patients to inquire whether they have washed their hands.

And he said the code would underline the importance of good hygiene to patients.

"I don't think it's patronising and I hope people won't feel patronised by it," he said.

"It will remind patients and visitors that they can play a part in reducing the risk of infections."

The code is being launched this spring at the Clean Hospitals Summit and the Patients' Association is to set the NHS a 100-day challenge to clean up its act and reduce healthcare associated infections, such as the deadly MRSA superbug.

The campaigning group wants patients to play their part in keeping hospitals clean.

The code's recommendations are:

Patients should bathe and wash their hair before they come into hospital.

Patients should organise someone to launder their nightwear and bring in fresh supplies of nightclothes and toiletries.

Visitors should go home and change before coming into hospital.

Only two visitors at a time.

Visitors should not sit on beds.

Patients in isolation should have no visitors.

Patients should ask staff and visitors "have you washed your hands?"

Patients should bring in medical wipes and clean hands after using a bottle or bed pan.

Patients should collect own rubbish in plastic bags clipped to bedside lockers.

Patients should fill out hospital questionnaires.

Ben Payne