A HOSPITAL has been told by the health watchdog to make immediate improvements to cleanliness.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland found staff at Aberdeen's Woodend Hospital had failed to clean reusable equipment, were using the wrong products, and not all commodes and wash basins were properly cleaned.

Inspectors also found vinyl gloves in two wards although their use does not conform to guidelines.

The lead inspector Susan Brimelow said "This inspection has identified several priority areas where Woodend Hospital must make immediate improvements. In particular, we found reusable patient equipment which was not clean and saw a number of wash hand basins which were non-compliant with current guidance, in ward areas. The environment of some wards and units inspected appeared tired and we found unsuitable products being used to decontaminate patient equipment."

However she said patients spoke positively about the care they had received and staff demonstrated a good awareness of their roles and responsibilities for infection prevention and control.

Dr Roelf Dijkhuizen, medical director, NHS ­Grampian, said all the recommendations made by the inspection team in February had either already been put in place or were being tackled.

But North East Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald called for cleanliness to be increased. He said: "Basic requirements, such as having enough non-vinyl gloves and sinks to ensure that patient care is not compromised should be addressed immediately."