Report warns of unclean hospitals

Patients with infectious diseases have been left in crowded emergency units for up to 30 hours, while blood stains and soiled bed pans have been found in maternity wards.

Major hygiene reports into 14 public hospitals have uncovered the incidents, warning that patients are being put at risk.

The Health Information Quality Authority (Hiqa) files, which can be read read in full at www.irishexaminer.com, were the first undertaken since summer 2010.

While some hospitals received a clean bill of health, Connolly, South Tipperary General, Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, and the Mid-Western Maternity Hospital in Limerick have come in for particular criticism in the reports.

According to records:

*A patient with an infectious disease was left in an emergency department cubicle at Blanchardstown’s Connolly Hospital for 30 hours, with a similar issue occurring at South Tipperary General;

*South Tipperary General must undergo a complete hygiene review after its maternity ward was found to be unclean;

*Intravenous fluid stands, wound dressing trolleys, and cots were unclean at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin. Three “soiled” commodes were also found.

A number of issues were recorded at other facilities, including the fact Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise did not have a risk assessment manager.

Stephen McMahon, the chairman of the Irish Patients Association, reacted angrily to the revelations.

“A two-year gap for audits is not acceptable and calls into question commitments to stop preventable infections as such audits have a key role in delivering safer care,” he said.

*www.hiqa.ie