The NHS in Wales does not have a culture of cleanliness, the report says

Hospital cleaning in Wales is still not up to scratch, according to a report published by the Assembly's audit committee.

It highlights several shortcomings including a failure to take into account increasing patient numbers.

The committee praises the development of new standards but doubts whether hospital trusts will be able to reach them.

The British Medical Association has called for cleanliness in hospitals to the put at the top of the NHS agenda.

The assembly's audit committee said the NHS in Wales lacks a culture of cleanliness.

Its report claims the management of hospital cleaning remains unsatisfactory, with a failure to adjust cleaning routines to take account of the rising number of people on the wards.

It may mean some more paperwork but it's important that standards of hygiene and cleanliness are maintained and we know that they are improving Dr Richard Lewis

Janet Davies AM, chair of the assembly's audit committee, said a clean hospital environment is essential for the health and well being of patients, staff and visitors.

She told BBC Wales: "It was a major problem we discovered when we took evidence. Quite a number of hospitals are not as clean as they should be.

"This often arose as much out of lack of a communication between different members of staff as the actual costs of the cleansing contracts."

She said need for the highest standards of cleanliness should be at the heart of hospital management and practices.

Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh Secretary of the BMA said the findings were a general acknowledge that there was a deterioration in standards.

"It's important that the cleanliness and standards of hygiene are put at the top of the agenda.

"Airborne dust can carry germs and bacteria along with it but other more important issues are simple mechanisms like hygiene - hand washing in between seeing patients and ensuring that everyone complies with that, including patients and visitors."

"It may mean some more paperwork but it's important that standards of hygiene and cleanliness are maintained and we know that they are improving."