I write with reference to the article in The Comet dated September 28 on hygiene in our hospitals. Having worked in nursing homes, I am very aware of the problems in hospitals. Patients with MRSA should be in isolation, and nurses looking after them shoul

I write with reference to the article in The Comet dated September 28 on hygiene in our hospitals. Having worked in nursing homes, I am very aware of the problems in hospitals. Patients with MRSA should be in isolation, and nurses looking after them should gown up and not remove anything from their rooms. Cleaning their rooms must be done thoroughly.

Another thing which always puzzles me is when we see nurses around the town in their uniform, shopping in supermarkets and so on, is this hygienic?

When working in nursing homes, we were not allowed outside the home in our uniforms. Standards about jewellery and nail varnish have dropped so low. I would not go into hospital, things are that bad.

Bring back the matrons!

R COSSEY, Murrell Lane, Stotfold

* I would just like to say that I am not completely shocked by what has been said about infections being spread by people's hands in hospitals.

It is all very well for some people washing their hands after using cubicles in the toilets and this applies to males and females alike (that I have been told about) but for those who do not - and I have witnesses - lots of males do not wash their hands and then go and pass on their germs onto door handles everywhere.

Then those who have washed their hands touch a door handle and pick up those germs. I can assure you that I have also seen males come out of toilet cubicles with unwashed hands and then start handling unwrapped fruit and vegetables in the supermarket. I did voice my concern to the manager, but all I got as a sensible response was "Yes, I know". All right you know, but what are you going to do about it? I know what I would do!!

B J WILLERS, Stevenage