A ward housekeeper scheme at Oxfordshire's major hospitals has improved cleaning standards by 30 per cent.

There are 10 housekeepers at Oxford's John Radcliffe, Churchill and Radcliffe Infirmary, and The Horton, Banbury, who are all in charge of the upkeep in individual wards.

Their roles have proved so successful that organisers at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, responsible for the four sites, want to expand the scheme to cover all 90 wards and the JR and Horton casualty units. A pilot scheme of four wards was set up in May 2001.

Ward housekeepers are in charge of cleanliness and maintenance, and also act as hosts to patients.

Some have introduced initiatives such as a patient ironing service, and linen napkins for meals.

A survey found the hospital had met 30 per cent more requirements than before.

Project manager and senior nurse Em Wilkinson said: "Why shouldn't patients receive some of the niceties and comforts found in hotels?

"That's the essence of what we are trying to create.

"It's the little things that matter to patients -- access to a newspaper or flowers in a vase of water."

Since the programme was started the number of complaints about food and cleaning has fallen.

Food waste has been reduced, because housekeepers make sure patients are given the correct meals. Mike Fleming, director of operational services, said the impact made by housekeepers had helped to retain other staff.

He said: "You only have to look at how some of the wards have changed in the past year, to realise how that's affecting other staff."