HOSPITAL staff across the country are set to follow Bolton's lead in tackling infections by making alcohol-based hand washes compulsary.

The National Patient Safety Agency said hand rubs for doctors and nurses will be placed next to every patient in every hospital by next April.

The move is to reduce infection rates because research has shown that hand washing can reduce infection up to 50 per cent.

Staff at the Royal Bolton Hospital have been using the hand wash for three months, which they have attached to their uniform, and have found it to be extremely effective.

The hospital had just 38 cases of superbug MRSA last year, one of the lowest in the country. A campaign to promote hand washing among health care staff has also been launched by the Department of Health, something the Royal Bolton Hospital has already implemented.

A spokesman from the Royal Bolton Hospital said: "The Trust take infection control issues very seriously.

"We have a hand washing policy within the Trust and for the past three months have been piloting the use of alcohol gel washes which are clipped onto the uniforms of doctors, nursing staff and porters.

"We already have hand scrubs near patient bedsides as well as hand washing facilities on the wards.

"The gel is a fast and effective way of cleaning hands and reinforces the hand washing policy which we expect all staff to follow." The campaign has been backed by the North-west Health Protection Agency who say hand washing is the second most effective way of preventing the spread of infectious disease after child immunisation.

Professor Qutub Syed said hand washing is equally important for children, who should be taught the importance from an early age.