HOSPITALS in East Dorset completed the government-imposed deep cleaning programme in time for the April 1 deadline.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced last September that all 1,500 hospitals in England would be scrubbed thoroughly to tackle bugs such as MRSA and clostridium difficile.

Health Minister Ben Bradshaw dismissed claims that the deep cleans were a gimmick, claiming that they were "immensely popular" with patients, public and hospital staff. Ninety-three of the trusts met the target.

Belinda Atkinson, of Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals Foundation Trust, said: "All patient areas within our hospitals have now been deep cleaned. We have also invested additional resources in housekeeping staff to enable an ongoing programme of deep cleaning.

"Deep cleaning has involved intensive cleaning of ward areas."

A spokeswoman for Poole Hospital said: "Poole Hospital has completed its deep cleaning process. It has been carried out on a bay-by-bay basis to ensure that it did not disrupt patient care.

"Deep cleaning takes place as a matter of course at Poole Hospital following any case of infection."

Dorset HealthCare NHS Foundation Trust completed its £34,000 deep clean programme at St Ann's, Alderney and King's Park Hospitals, said chief executive Roger Browning.

"Although the majority of the specialist mental health Trust's services are now community-based, we place a great deal of importance on the cleanliness and high standards of the hospital facilities that we operate."