The scheme could soon be rolled out across the UK

The survey, carried out by the Patient and Public Involvement Forums (PPI Forums), aims to increase understanding of the hospital "superbug" MRSA.

Volunteers will look at how often staff wash their hands, and the numbers and availability of sinks on the wards.

If the project is successful it could soon be rolled out by PPI Forums across the UK.

One hundred and fifty volunteers will check 35 hospitals in the region from Tuesday.

The results will be analysed by the Regional Office of the CPPIH (Commission for Patient & Public Involvement in Health) before recommendations are made available to the public.

Paul Siddall, regional manager for CPPIH said: "As more and more people are starting to realise, tackling bugs such as MRSA is as much about basic hygiene as it is about powerful antibiotics."