Hospital hygiene: The €35m clean-up bill

AT least €35 million was spent on cleaning Irish hospitals last year, yet this country has the highest rate in Europe of the potentially fatal MRSA bug.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has admitted that Irish hospitals are using different hygiene guidelines but said that they intend to remedy this inconsistency after their two month hygiene audit is completed next month.

Each former health board yesterday said that they fully train staff on hygiene requirements whether they are in-house staff or contract cleaners. All of the former health board areas reported growing cleaning bills over recent years.

A recent survey by British researchers Patient View revealed Ireland has the highest rate of MRSA infection in Europe, with an infection rate of +119.3 per million inhabitants over double that of second-placed Portugal.

The newly-formed MRSA And Families group has also recorded more than 100 MRSA patients at any of their meetings held since they formed in May.

Chairperson Margaret Dawson said that she couldn't understand how the €35 million was being spent.

"I am shocked by this figure as we are constantly contacted by families appalled at the dirt of hospitals. There are some with high standards but there are many more where hygiene doesn't seem to be a pressing issue," she said.

Labour party spokesperson on health, Liz Mc Manus agreed that the figure "appeared very high."

"I would like the hospitals to reveal exactly how this money is spent and how value is being obtained from the spend as MRSA is a growing problem in every hospital," she said.

A spokesperson for the HSE said that hygiene is a "critical issue" for every hospital and that the maintenance of the highest hygiene standards is at the top of its agenda.

Following the audit, the HSE will produce a national and consistent set of infection control and hygiene standards for hospitals.