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Hygiene standards of public hospitals in the Republic of Ireland have been attacked in an official report.
Just seven of the country’s public hospitals have “good” hygiene standards while none can be classed as “very good”, according to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
Its study found The Mid Western Regional in Nenagh; Our Lady of Lourdes in Louth; Mallow General; Our Lady’s in Navan; Portiuncula in Galway; Roscommon County; St Mary’s Orthopaedic in Cork; Wexford General and St Michael’s in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, were all “poor”.
Meanwhile, the seven rated as “good” were Tallaght; Beaumont; St James’; St Vincent’s; Rotunda which are all in Dublin; St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny and Naas General Hospital in Kildare.
The remaining 35 sites were marked as “fair”.
HIQA chief executive Dr Tracey Cooper said: “The rise of health care associated infections (HAI) over the last 10 to 15 years has presented a challenge to health systems throughout the world, and Ireland is no different.
“Addressing HAI and seeking to minimise and eradicate the harm and trauma they cause has to be a priority for all of us involved in planning, providing and quality assuring healthcare services.
“Our health and social care services must be delivered in appropriately clean settings so that our care reduces rather than increases the likelihood of infection.
“Patients who entrust their care to us should expect nothing less.
“Health care providers should be able to deliver services in an environment that promotes confidence among patients.”
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