Row over second hygiene audit

DOCTORS and patients have sharply disagreed on the usefulness of having a second hygiene audit in the country’s 46 acute hospitals.

MRSA and Families have said they believe it is a “marvellous idea” that will keep “hygiene to the fore in hospitals”, but the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has said it is “waste of public money and a waste of time.”

Last week, Heath Minister and Tánaiste Mary Harney announced that a second hygiene audit would begin next month. The first audit, published in November, revealed that a shocking 91% of public hospitals fall below an acceptable standard of cleanliness.