The code will be launched at the Clean Hospitals Summit, in April, as part of a 100-day challenge to the NHS nationally by the Patients’ Association to clean up its act and curb healthcare-associated infections.

Meanwhile, Unison has produced a report today at a conference of hospital cleaners, claiming staff are suffering “sheer frustration” in their efforts to do their job, and calling for improved standards, recruitment of more staff, and basing the choice of cleaning materials on effectiveness rather than cost.

Unison also wants all cleaning of hospitals to be brought back in-house, rather than using contract cleaners from outwith the NHS.

The ten point Patients’ Association code is aimed at hospital staff, but also at patients and their visitors, with points on how they should protect themselves.

It advises:-

* Patients should bathe and wash their hair before they come into hospital for elective surgery.

* Patients should organise someone to launder their nightwear and bring in fresh supplies of night clothes and toiletries.

* Visitors should go home and wash and change before coming into hospital.

* Only two visitors at a time.

* Visitors should not sit on beds.

* Patients in isolation should have no visitors — they should use the phone instead.

* Patients should ask staff and visitors “have you washed your hands?”

* Patients should bring in medical wipes and clean their hands after using a bottle or a bed pan.

* Patients should collect their own rubbish in plastic bags clipped to their bedside lockers.

* Fill out hospital questionnaires.

Ms Rayner told the Nursing Standard, “Clean hospitals are an important factor in the fight against hospital acquired infections.

“Some wards are disgusting, with urine bottles lying around and no one bothering to take them away. Floors aren’t cleaned underneath beds and, often, walls are splashed with blood. Lavatories are often foul.

“We want to teach patients they have a role, too — they can do a great deal to make themselves safe. Many are neglecting their responsibilities.”

A spokeswoman for NHS Tayside said many of the recommendations in the 10-point code were already being advocated in their hospitals.

“When patients receive an appointment to come into one of our hospitals they also receive information booklets, one of which includes seven simple measures they can take to help reduce the spread of infection in hospital,” she said.

“The recommendations are: clean your hands after using the toilet/commode and before eating; don’t be afraid to tell staff if you are worried about any aspect of hygiene; ask visitors not to come if they’re not well — especially with flu, tummy upsets or rashes; ask visitors not to sit on beds in wards; don’t touch dressings, drips or equipment; keep your table and locker space tidy to help us clean the area; let staff know if you’ve had any infections recently.

“However, it is very important for all of us — staff, visitors and patients — to be particularly aware of the possible spread of infection.

“That’s why we also need those visiting our hospitals to help us in our fight against healthcare acquired infection.

“The most important thing visitors can do is to wash and dry their hands before going into clinical areas, also never sit on the bed, touch dressings, drips or other equipment around the patient. By doing this, visitors can play a huge role in controlling the spread of infection.”

The spokeswoman added Tayside had “an in-house team of dedicated cleaners who work extremely hard to keep our hospitals clean”.

“We don’t under-estimate the vital role they play in ensuring the smooth running of our wards and departments, and we believe they carry out a very valuable service in what can be a challenging environment.

“We’re looking at new ways to support our cleaning services and tackle the control of infection in healthcare.

“One of the measures we’re introducing is a pilot scheme which will see ‘housekeepers’ appearing on wards to help maintain quality cleaning standards.”