What difference will the new matrons make

asks woolley:
A. Health Secretary Alan Milburn recently announced that he planned to reinstate hospital matrons, and it's hoped that they'll make a significant difference in the cleanliness of hospitals.

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Q. Are they dirty
A. Yes. Last week, 42 NHS hospitals were 'named and shamed' for the level of squalor found in them.

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Q. What sort of squalor
A. A few of the horrors named were bags of soiled sheets, dirty bandages and non-functioning lifts.

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Q. Why did it get so bad
A. It has been blamed partly on the contracting out of cleansing services - choosing the cheapest tender doesn't always mean you get the best quality service. As well as giving more money to clean up the hospitals, the Government plans to bring back matrons, who will have the authority to keep wards clean. This move is seen as a vital step in making hospitals hygienic.

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Q. Why is it so important to keep hospitals hygienic
A. About 5,000 people die each year because of infections they catch in NHS hospitals. And some viruses, such as the MRSA infection, have developed a resistance to antibiotics, so keeping hospitals clean and free from infection is more important than ever.

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Q. When I think of matrons, I always think of Hattie Jacques...
A. That's your problem. But seriously, the old-style matrons were a force to be reckoned with: they kept the nurses to strict rules (no jewellery, uniforms immaculate, hair tidy and pinned under cap). They were seen as the heart of the hospital and everyone - including the doctors - jumped when matron came into the room.

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Q. Will the new ones be like that
A. No, their approach will be more modern, using leadership and communication skills, rather than fear to run the wards. They'll be called 'clinical nurse managers' and promise to be more friendly and approachable than their predecessors.

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By Sheena Miller