The housekeepers will help to maintain ward cleanliness

The Conwy and Denbighshire trust says the housekeepers will complement the work of frontline medical staff, "leaving nurses to nurse".

They will have special responsibility for cleanliness of wards and quality of food, and will also welcome visitors.

The trust says they will be the first of their kind in the NHS in Wales.

Similar appointments have been made in England, however their roles and responsibilities will be different.

I aim to make a difference for the patients Iona Davies, senior housekeeper

The move follows a trial held at Glan Clwyd Hospital's cancer centre.

The trust says there will be about 10 housekeepers in the first wave of appointments, on a one-per-ward basis at Glan Clwyd hospital. The scheme will then be rolled out to include the trust's community hospitals.

The new workers do not need a background in nursing, however a "good understanding" of clinical care will be a requirement. Existing staff with a mixture of skills will be transferred into the roles.

Jill Galvani, the trust's executive director of nursing, said the feedback from the 18-month pilot scheme had been "incredibly positive".

Iona Davies, who has now been appointed senior housekeeper in the cancer centre said she liked to ensure that patients are "treated as individuals and get what they want for their personal comfort including a clean environment, good food, and privacy".

"I aim to make a difference for the patients," she added.

The housekeepers will take on some of the administration tasks currently carried out by nurses such as stock ordering, as well as acting as the "eyes and ears" within the ward to maintain standards.