Long-sleeved white coats worn by doctors will be banished from hospital wards because ministers believe that they contribute to the spread of superbugs.

Under a new dress code to be announced today by Alan Johnson, the Health Secretary, the arms of medics must be bare below the elbow whenever they are in contact with patients.

The Government believes that MRSA is spread from patient to patient on the cuffs of doctors’ coats. The guidelines are intended to make it easier for them to wash their hands between cases. The bare-arms rule is one of a number of measures to be unveiled by Mr Johnson to cut hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile.

He will say that the fear of catching a hospital superbug has overtaken waiting times as the public’s greatest concern over the NHS. The initiative comes as a public consultation begins on ways to improve the health service.

Some hospital trusts have already banned white coats, and all are expected to do so by January. Doctors, nurses and other staff will also be ordered not to wear watches or jewellery, and advised against wearing ties while engaged in clinical activity.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: “The traditional doctor’s coat will not be allowed. Where staff have direct patient contact, then suitable protection, for example plastic aprons, should be worn.”

Matrons and nurses will have a chance to give hospital boards direct accounts of their efforts against superbugs to ensure that their recommendations are not overlooked by managers.

Mr Johnson said: “The problem we have identified is many matrons and nurses tell us they are the experts on how to resolve this problem on their wards, but their voice is not heard clearly enough.”

MRSA cases are down 17 per cent since 2004. Some 6,378 cases were reported between April 2006 and March 2007, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said. But doctors gave warning last month that poor hospital management practices meant that the Government would miss MRSA targets.

Hospitals will also be issued with new clinical guidance about isolating patients who do become infected with Clostridium difficile, and a new legal requirement will be placed on all chief executives to report all MRSA bacteraemias to the HPA.

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