Sir Richard Branson criticised "horrific" hospital infection rates, accusing politicians and health bosses of "tinkering" with the problem.
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The Virgin tycoon, who was recently appointed vice-president of the Patients Association, called for all hospital staff to be screened for the superbug MRSA and receive immediate treatment if infected.
He has also said managers at failing NHS trusts should be fired.
Infection rates for MRSA are falling across the UK with the most recent quarterly figures showing a 33 per cent drop year on year, but Sir Richard is calling for more to be done.
The entrepreneur - whose daughter Holly is a doctor - told the BBC: "There have been some improvements, but the facts speak for themselves - and the facts are still horrific.
Sir Richard is helping to organise an international conference on infection control and patient safety early next year.
He argued that all hospital staff including doctors, nurses and cleaners should be checked for MRSA and treated if infected - even if that causes disruption to medical services.
He said: "You don't necessarily have to ask them to leave the hospital while they are being treated.
"They can just not have any contact with patients for those two weeks while their treatment is taking place, and then they can come back and have contact with patients.
"That is far better than having people dying from unnecessary diseases, and all the misery and pain that that causes, and the cost to the NHS which is enormous."
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