HOSPITAL matrons - immortalised by larger-than-life actress Hattie Jacques in the Carry On films - are to return to Worcester Royal Infirmary for the first time in 30 years.

Health secretary Alan Milburn has announced plans to put matrons on to every hospital ward in Worcestershire and Herefordshire within three years.

Some of the matrons, who will earn £31,000 per year, will be in place by next April.

Glen Green, chairman of Worcester and District Community Health Council, backed the decision.

"It's wonderful news," she said.

"They've already reintroduced a matron at Evesham Community Hospital and that has been very successful.

"It brings the caring back to the patients which is what the health service is all about."

Worcester MP Mike Foster said it was a "change that patients and nurses want to see".

"This is a huge vote of confidence and the Royal College of Nursing has welcomed this move," he added.

The senior nurses will have wide-ranging powers to take charge of everything from patient care to food and cleaning standards.

They will wear special uniforms to make them distinctive to patients and have control over groups of three or four wards.

But Ministers promised they would be nothing like the intimidating old-style matrons.

"We're bringing back matron - with a new job and new powers for today's NHS," said Mr Milburn.

"Patients want to know who to turn to and need to know who's in charge. Matrons on the ward will have the authority to put things right for patients.

"The public last year, overwhelmingly backed the call to bring back matron.

"From next year, matrons will indeed be back walking the wards in every hospital."

Many of the new matrons will be chosen from existing senior ward sisters.

They will have 10 specific tasks, including ensuring elderly patients are treated properly, dealing with complaints and preventing ward infections.

"This is an exciting development which the Trust wholeheartedly supports and which we anticipate will make a difference to patient care," said Janet Marie Clark, spokeswoman for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

"The Trust has a plan for re-introducing approximately 12 matrons in the form of senior nurse posts, which fits in entirely with county development within the new hospital in Worcester, the Ambulatory Care Centre at Kidderminster and the modernisation at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

"A pilot scheme using roles of this kind has been in place for the past two years and we plan to expand this across the Trust as soon as possible."