HOSPITAL matrons are making a comeback in Scotland as health bosses launch their latest weapon against superbugs.

By 2010 every hospital ward will have a senior charge nurse, responsible for the standard of every patient's care.

And they will have the same powers as the matrons who once struck terror into the hearts of nurses and doctors alike.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who is also Health Secretary, announced the new senior roles as she visited Glasgow Royal Infirmary's Canniesburn unit, which treats burns victims needing plastic surgery.

The first of the newly qualified matrons are already in place at the unit.

Ms Sturgeon promised the extremely strict hygiene needed to keep them safe would soon be offered in every hospital ward.

She said: "Senior charge nurses will have the same responsibility for ward hygiene as matrons used to have - set in the context of a 21st century environment."

Grant Anderson, 37, was admitted to the unit in December after suffering severe burns in a fire.

Despite his lengthy hospital stay he has managed to stay clear of infections that could put his life in danger or prolong his recovery.

Mr Anderson said: "It's important to keep my wounds clean, and anything that helps that is a good thing. The sisters here use authority when they need to."

He hopes to leave hospital in time for the wedding of his sister in February.

Ms Sturgeon said it was "probably true"

doctors were among the worst offenders when it came to hand hygiene, but insisted there would be no excuses as the Government moved towards a "zero tolerance" policy on staff failing to take the appropriate hygiene measures.

The rules have been toughened after an outbreak of the C.Diff bug was linked to the deaths of 18 patients at the Vale of Leven Hospital in Alexandria, Dunbartonshire, last year.

Senior charge nurse Jacqui Ivison, who looks after the Canniesburn unit, was in the first group to qualify for the new senior job.

She supervises regular monitoring of patients for infections and can call in extra cleaning or check clinical practices if a problem is suspected.

She said: "We make a huge team effort to reduce hospital acquired infections. If the rates are up even slightly, I can act on them before they get out of control."

And she is never scared to tell anyone to wash their hands.

The Royal College of Nursing has promised to work with the Government and health boards to support staff over the two years it will take to extend of the scheme.