HYGIENE standards at the Alexandra Hospital are improving, according to inspectors who gave it an "amber" rating, meaning it is acceptable.

The recent findings are an improvement after a spot-check in autumn deemed hospital hygiene to be poor.

The Alexandra now joins a majority of hospitals across the country with amber ratings.

Now the Worcestershire Acute Hospital Trust is to overhaul the reception and showers at the hospital and also pay for training and a system to monitor cleaning standards.

The ratings are based on a green, amber or red "traffic-light" grading system based on the hospital's performance in categories encompassing the patients' environment.

Marks were awarded to areas such as the reception, internal decoration, visitors' lavatories, signage and even smells.

Internal cleanliness and tidiness in common areas and wards as well as furniture, car parks and the hospital grounds were also assessed.

The unannounced spot-check was carried out by a Patient Environment Action Team comprising managers from other hospitals, specialist hygiene control nurses and watchdogs such as the Patient's Association and Patient Concern.

A Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman said: "We are pleased with the results of the latest inspections of the five hospitals within the trust.

"Three of the our sites have maintained their green - excellent - standard and the other two have made significant improvements to reach amber level.

"We will continue to maintain and improve these standards in the future."

Redditch MP Jacqui Smith said: "In six months, the staff of the hospital have worked very hard to improve the surroundings for patients.

"With building work taking place on a new roof, an upgrade to A&E and a better outpatients' department, this is very difficult.

"The Alex is going from strength to strength with more money from the Government but also lots of hard work from everyone at the hospital."