Hospitals ‘failing to inform patients of MRSA infection’

THE organiser of a national remembrance day for people who have died from MRSA has claimed hospitals are still failing to inform patients if they have been infected.

Figures detailed by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) show that in the first half of 2009 there were 191 MRSA cases — down from 419 during all of last year.

However, founder of MRSA and Families Margaret Dawson claimed that the downturn is partially the result of doctors continuing to “hide” proof of cases in their hospitals.

“My concern is that after four and a half years there has been progress, but not nearly enough,” said the campaigner, whose husband contracted MRSA.

“There are guidelines about reporting now but they’re not always followed. If you have cancer or heart disease or something like that people have to be informed, but people with healthcare-acquired infections are not always told.

“We still don’t have enough isolation rooms; we still don’t have the staff we need and the people who are infected are made to feel like lepers,” she claimed.

Ms Dawson made the comments before last night’s national remembrance day for people who have died from MRSA.

The multi-denominational event — which took place at the Church of the Resurrection in Farranree, Cork city — was the first of its kind in Ireland, with next year’s event due to take place in Kilkenny.

Cork was chosen for the event as it was the location of the first ever inquest that confirmed the death of someone in Ireland from MRSA, after 74-year-old Valentine Ryan died at the Mercy University Hospital in 2004.

Ms Dawson said that while some progress has been made since the elderly patient’s death five years ago, Ireland’s approach to MRSA was still “deeply concerning”.

She said her views were supported by the publication of the latest annual Euro Health Consumer Index, which Ms Dawson said gave Ireland “black marks” for its lack of progress on addressing the issue.