TIMES they are a-changing at Torbay Hospital as it implements a groundbreaking initiative aimed at taking hygiene to even higher levels.

Staff are wearing specially designed fob watches with washable rubber holders to limit the chance of passing on bacteria to patients.

The watches are being worn by frontline staff instead of non-washable watches, ensuring that their arms are naked below the elbows.

This means staff can thoroughly wash their wrists as well as their hands without a watch in the way, and they can also put the watch's outer case in a washing machine.

Hospital staff anticipate that this will help to further reduce transmission of infections such as MRSA — incidents of which are down more than 80 per cent in four years within the hospital.

The washable watches are proving such a success, other hospitals across the country are following Torbay's lead.

Liz Childs, South Devon Healthcare's director of nursing and quality, said: "It can be really simple, inexpensive ideas that make a big difference.

"We have learnt over the past 18 months, taking part in the national Safer Patients Initiative, that huge gains can be made by trying out small changes and measuring their effects.

"When other hospitals heard that we had introduced the watches, they were keen to find out more from us, and at least one major hospital has already followed suit, ordering thousands for their staff.

"Safeguards being used by Torbay Hospital have been making a real difference. This includes death rates — which were already significantly lower than the national average, and have been reduced even more."