HOSPITAL chiefs in Bolton are confident that security checks will stop criminals and imposters getting onto wards.

The backgrounds of all staff -- including porters, cleaners and volunteers -- at the Royal Bolton Hospital will be scrutinised under new orders from the Department of Health.

A woman with psychiatric problems tricked her way into a job as a senior doctor at the hospital two years ago after claiming she had experience at Guy's Hospital in London. Her CV was proven to have been invented.

However, the Royal Bolton said this was the last incident of its kind and extensive checks at the time exposed her.

The Department of Health has ordered hospitals to check all staff. They will also be able to check if an employee is being investigated by a professional body.

Until now, the Royal Bolton Hospital has not been obliged to carry out post-employment checks on its doctors and nurses.

Eddie McGurk, director of human resources, said the hospital had a system in place which meant new employees were scrutinised.

He added: "The only difference now is that we can check to see if a person is being investigated by a body such as the General Medical Council.

"We will also be able to carry out post-employment checks on people employed by us and who have not been checked in the past. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that we find someone who has a police record that wasn't disclosed."

Mr McGurk said volunteers who come into the hospital will also have to undergo the same checks.