TWO major Hampshire hospitals were today warned they must improve cleanliness in a bid to prevent the spread of potentially-fatal superbugs.

A team of independent health watchdogs said hygiene on wards and food quality at Southampton's Princess Anne Hospital and Royal South Hants Hospital were only acceptable.

Now the Department of Health, which is determined to tackle hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA, has told health chiefs they need to do "a lot more work" to bring the trust up to scratch.

Southampton General Hospital and the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester, both scored good for cleanliness and food.

However Moorgreen Hospital in Botley Road, West End, was rated poor for hygiene - one of just 24 across England.

Fordingbridge Hospital was poor for food.

Checks on standards of cleanliness and food in NHS hospitals were carried out by Patient environment Action Teams (PEATs).

The inspections were sparked by growing concern at the spread of MRSA and other serious illnesses spread within hospitals.

The PEAT teams rated 1,184 hospitals in England for cleanliness. It said 118 were excellent, 456 good, 583 acceptable, 24 poor and three unacceptable.

They studied wards, reception and waiting areas, accident and emergency areas, corridors, furnishings and linen.

For quality of food served, 92 hospitals were excellent, 574 good, 402 acceptable, 67 poor and seven unacceptable.

Health minister Lord Warner said "a lot more work is needed" to improve standards at the 49 per cent of hospitals considered acceptable.

Today a spokesman for Southampton City Primary Care Trust, which runs Moorgreen Hospital, stressed its poor rating revolved around environmental issues at the hospital's Tom Rudd Unit and not MRSA infection.

"We are addressing all relevant issues and are doing everything they can to ensure any areas of concern highlighted by PEAT inspections are rectified immediately," she said.

Eleanor Simmons, spokesman for New Forest Primary Care Trust, said: "We are working with Salisbury Healthcare NHS Trust to improve standards at Fordingbridge Hospital to ensure appropriate environmental services for patients."

Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman Peter Campion said: "We are pleased not to have got the any poor ratings.

"We would obviously like to get everything up to the good category and are doing everything we can to achieve this."