TWO hospitals are to benefit from having a major clean later this month.

The hospitals, which are run by West Kent Primary Care Trust, will be cleaned as part of the Government's Deep Clean directive to help fight superbugs.

Work will be carried out by the end of this month at Livingstone Hospital, East Hill, Dartford, and Gravesham Community Hospital, Bath Street, Gravesend.

All the main clinical areas, wards and minor injuries units will be cleaned by staff from Active Hygiene Services, a contractor experienced in hospital deep cleans.

The trust's deputy director for community services, Karen Jefferies, said: "This is a special initiative which will be completed nationally by March 31.

"Deep cleans are carried out at all our community hospitals on a regular basis.

"Our services consistently score highly in the annual Patient Environment Action Team inspections."

The trust is working closely with Active Hygiene Services to ensure disruption to patients is kept to a minimum.

Notices will also be up to keep patients, staff and visitors informed.

Each clean will last for between three and four days.

The Deep Clean directive has been introduced by the Department of Health to help reduce infections in hospitals across the country.

Livingstone Hospital is also the trust's first community hospital to pilot using disposable curtains, which are MRSA resistant, around bed areas.

If this proves successful, the curtains will be introduced in all ward areas throughout the trust.

Chairman of the Patient Public Involvement Forum Diane Steltner said: "Any form of cleaning is always good and a deep clean for a hospital is extra special."