THE Royal Bolton Hospital opened its doors to a second Government visitor on Tuesday as a campaign to stop the spread of infections in hospitals was launched.

Health Minister John Huston followed in the footsteps of Health Secretary Dr John Reid as he was taken on a whistlestop tour of the hospital.

He was launching the Clean Hands campaign in a bid to cut the incidence of the MRSA superbug in hospitals across the country.

At the Royal Bolton Hospital, he was shown how alcohol gel, which instantly kills germs, is placed at ward entrances and next to most patient beds.

Mr Huston officially launched the campaign by sending an email to all staff informing them of the need to clean their hands at all times.

The message is also going out to the public.

Mr Huston said: "The whole community needs to get behind this campaign because infections like MRSA are not only passed on by doctors and nurses, but also by relatives coming in to see patients. People need to get into the habit of keeping their hands clean at all times.

"We have to get this problem sorted out to make a difference to patients in hospital."

Elaine Flynn, the hospital's lead infection control nurse specialist, said: "Both staff and the public have got to expect to use the alcohol gel every time they come on to and leave a ward."

Mr Huston was shown state-of-the-art equipment and operating theatres in the eye unit by lead clinician Jeff Kwartz, and saw a cataract operation being carried out. It was Mr Huston's second visit to the unit. He visited it five years ago while it was being refurbished.