A housekeeping pilot scheme at Oxford hospitals has been so successful it is to be extended to hospitals across the UK.

Ward 7F at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington and Adams Ward at the Radcliffe Infirmary in the city centre, were chosen to trial the project, which started in October 2001.

The housekeepers have a range of duties, including overseeing cleanliness on the wards and liaising with estates staff, to make sure maintenance jobs such as changing light bulbs are done quickly.

They also monitor food on the ward, working with nurses to make sure patients are given the right meals.

There have been general problems with cleanliness at the JR, and managers have decided to end Mediclean's contract in May.

Ward 7F sister Claire Smith said that having housekeeper Barbara Giles on the team had helped improve staff morale and patient care.

She said: "The environment had become less of a priority, but patients do care about how the ward looks.

"They lie in bed and look at the chipped paint and dirty floors."

"Having a housekeeper basically means someone is taking responsibility for the non-clinical aspects of care. Barbara does the things we don't really have the time to do.

"It has taken a huge amount of pressure off the whole nursing team.

"At the moment, we are decorating and Barbara is dealing with that. The ward hasn't had a coat of paint for years and the nurses love the fact that the walls are bright yellow!

"The cleanliness has improved tremendously and Barbara has played a huge part.

"She has helped to raise the profile of the environment, so everyone has pride in the ward and does their part.

Mrs Giles said it was satisfying to know she was making a difference.

She said: "I make sure the light bulbs are changed, the flowers are put in water and that patients have their meals.

"I'm not replacing the nurses, but when they were doing these things it took them away from their clinical duties.

"It's lovely to be able to stand back and see the difference on the ward since the first time I was there. It looks 100 per cent better and shows what housekeeping can achieve.

"I look around and think that if my relatives were patients, I'd be happy."

Housekeepers are now being appointed for a second trial at the Churchill Hospital, in Headington, and The Horton, Banbury.