Cleaning tips

WITh regards to your recent report (7 May) about hospital standards, there is little point in having strict hygiene rules for staff as part of the rigorous efforts in maintaining good infection control in our NHS hospitals unless visitors are also made to participate, as they can often be the weakest link in the chain of controlling the problem. I do not see it as unreasonable to ask all visitors to help in the care of patients they are visiting by spending a few minutes cleansing their hands before entering wards.

DENNIS GRATTAN

Mugiemoss Road

Bucksburn, Aberdeen