Hospital berated for soiled toilets and unclean floors

Nenagh Hospital has been ordered to clean up its act within weeks after inspectors found dirty sinks, soiled toilets and unclean floors posing a risk to patients.

The Co Tipperary hospital was also berated for dusty and gritty bedsteads, mouldy shower rooms, and allowing unfettered access to hazardous waste as well as needles and syringes.

State health watchdog Health Information and Quality Authority said there was “much evidence” of the hospital breaching national hygiene standards.

During an unannounced examination of the hospital last month, inspectors found health-threatening shortcomings in two wards — particularly the men’s ward.

These included stained bedsteads, sticky residue on bedside lockers, crumbling wall surfaces, dusty surfaces, and faulty electrical fittings, along with soiled areas in patient toilets and showers.

A device for monitoring sick patients’ temperatures was unclean and there were stained floors, unclean surfaces, and severed electrical wiring hanging free in a utility area. There was no door into a room storing hazardous waste, allowing unsecured access.

In the women’s ward, there were dusty and gritty beds, unclean floors, sticky residue on an intravenous pump, and unsecured access to needles, syringes, and oral medications.

The corridor was cluttered with specialist equipment alongside laundry.

Inspectors also found black mould on sinks in shower rooms and toilets during their visit on Sept 5.

Hospital chiefs have been given six weeks to offer a report on improvement plans.