Too many people have horror stories to tell about MRSA, the superbug unheard of 10 years ago but now spreading fear in hospitals across the country. Around 100,000 patients last year were infected by this virulent organism; an estimated 5,000 died.

Some blame can be laid at the door of politicians who privatised NHS cleaning services with the cheapest possible contracts in the 1980s. Conditions became much worse for the army of once-loyal cleaning staff who were suddenly no part of the NHS family.

As their roles on the wards declined, so did their rates of pay. For many, it became more attractive to work for Tesco than the local hospital. As a result, we now have nearly half the number of hospital cleaners we once had. Yet the need for them is much greater, because we are treating a record number of patients each year.

MRSA is a highly opportunistic organism which spreads with remarkable ease between people. Dirty wards are not the only reason for its success. The fast turnover of patients within hospitals, and our inability to isolate infected people because there are no longer the beds to do so, has exacerbated the problem.

Health Secretary John Reid needs to act quickly if he is to meet his pledge to halve the MRSA rates in three years. He must review the number of cleaners needed, so that we can be sure that the floors, lavatories and theatres are cleaned to a far higher standard. He should drive home the message to public and staff alike that regular handwashing in hospital is at the heart of infection control.

Finally, private cleaning contracts should be scrutinised, because it might pay to bring cleaners into the NHS, giving them proper rights and proper pay, and ensuring that we can all enjoy clean wards again.