One more cleaner on a ward could reduce bugs by a third and potentially saving lives and money

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NHS urged to invest in cleaning: The NHS is being urged to invest more in cleaners after research showed just one extra worker can make a difference.

The Unison-sponsored study showed having one more cleaner on a ward could reduce bugs by a third, potentially saving lives and money.

But despite the evidence, the union said it was concerned about the future of hospital cleaning services.

The government said cleaning was already a priority - as its record in reducing superbug rates showed.

The Unison study was carried out at Glasgow's Southern General Hospital by leading infections expert Dr Stephanie Dancer.

She analysed the impact of employing an extra cleaner on a ward for six months and then repeated it on another ward for the same length of time.

She found contamination of surfaces was reduced by 32.5% overall. Just four MRSA infections were confirmed in patients during the extra cleaning period, compared to nine during the period when there was no extra worker.

The cleaner was asked to focus on specific areas close to the patient beds, including lockers, trays, curtains and rails.

Dr Dancer said: "We should not forget that basic hospital cleaning with detergent and water is the first line of defence against hospital infections."

The research was published in the BMC Medicine journal to coincide with a one-day conference held in London on Tuesday by Unison for hospital cleaners.

The union is concerned about the future of hospital cleaning with the move towards contracting out services - 40% of hospitals use private cleaning firms - and the financial pressures being felt across the public sector because of the recession.