Clutter in hospitals caused by visitors and patients' luggage makes cleaning wards to stop the spread of the MRSA superbug impossible, cleaners warned today.

The British Cleaning Council (BCC) has called for restrictions on visiting times in hospitals, and the amount of luggage allowed, to help cleaners to work more effectively.

The chairman of the BCC, Paul Pearce, said the only way hospitals can be cleaned thoroughly is if time is set aside for them to work.

"Cleaners must be allowed to do their jobs properly and without interruption," he said.

The rise of MRSA has led to concerns about hygiene in hospitals, with cleaning staff getting much of the blame.

However, Mr Pearce claimed the focus on patients' wishes has caused the massive hygiene problems that hospitals are experiencing. He said there needs to be more cleaners, better working conditions, and training if the problem of hospital infections is to be overcome.

The government has recognised that hygiene standards need to be improved. Hand washing will be incorporated into the training of all staff, including cleaners, but Mr Pearce said more needs to be done in order to improve cleaners' working conditions.

Investing more into cleaning appears to bring positive results. Luton and Dunstable hospital invested 25% more into cleaning and achieved three-star status in the clean hospitals programme after being in the category of those hospitals most needing attention.

At any time, 9% of hospital patients have an infection, including MRSA, that has been caught in hospital. This costs the NHS approximately £1bn per year. Reports of MRSA have increased by 3.6% in the last year.