Deadline for deep clean 'to be met'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The Government pledged that all 1,500 hospitals in England will complete the process to prevent superbug infections.

The initiative was widely criticised as a gimmick when it was announced by Gordon Brown at the Labour Party conference in September.

Some doctors believe the deep cleans will have little effect on the spread of infection.

The Tories have also claimed that the fact the process is being monitored locally rather than centrally shows it is not a serious bid to tackle problems such as MRSA.

Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4's World at One that he did not keep a "running total" on how many hospitals had started deep cleans, but insisted he was confident the deadline would be met.

"As far as I am aware the process is well under way."

He added: "Roughly we are into the first 50 that have been under way so far."

The Department of Health later said that Mr Johnson intended to refer to how many hospital trusts had begun deep cleans, rather than the number of individual hospitals.

"Mr Johnson was talking about hospital trusts, of which there are only about 170," a spokeswoman said.