Hospital putting patients ‘at serious risk’

A leading regional hospital is putting patients at “immediate serious risk” by failing to meet vital health and safety policies designed to ensure the welfare of the public.

The criticism is contained in a Health Information Quality Authority inspection of Waterford Regional Hospital, which took place last month. According to the report, which can be read at www.irishexaminer.com, hospital staff are failing to adhere to long-established hand hygiene polices, risking the possibility of patient cross-infection.

The report said the issue was particularly apparent in the emergency department, where doctors and nurses regularly passed sinks without cleaning their hands, and hand gel dispensers often failed to work.