A GLASGOW hospital has been praised for driving up hygiene ­standards following a damning report.

The Victoria Infirmary was ordered to make ­improvements in six areas following a snap inspection in July last year.

Inspectors then found dirty equipment, needles protruding from bins, soiled incontinence pads not disposed of correctly and staff tying up clinical waste without wearing gloves.

Infection control standards in the hospital's elderly assessment Ward South 2 were also heavily criticised.

The health board was told to put together an action plan to address the problems and a follow-up inspection, carried out in November, said that all but one of the requirements had been met and resulted in no further requirements.

Inspectors found all wards and departments inspected were clean and that compliance with the infection control standards had significantly improved in Ward South 2.

The report said: "We found a marked improvement in the standard of cleaning in Ward South 2. All patients spoke positively and were complimentary of their care and cleanliness of their wards."

The health board has been given until next month to improve procedures for preventing a water-transmitted infection.

The inspection covered the old Victoria Infirmary, the New Victoria Hospital and the Mansionhouse Unit.

A spokeswoman for NHSGGC said: "We put in place a comprehensive improvement plan to deal with the requirements made by the inspectorate in the last report and have received no requirements following this recent unannounced visit.

"We welcome the inspectorate's positive comments on the changes that have been introduced and that patients spoke positively about the care they had received and the cleanliness of the wards.

"We recognise that we cannot become complacent and that the changes we have implemented need to be maintained to ensure the hospital continues to meet the appropriate standards."

caroline.wilson@eveningtimes.co.uk