Hospital failed to file hygiene records

A leading hospital failed to provide records to the HSE’s national audit on hand hygiene last year which would have shown it is falling far behind other facilities in ensuring patient safety.

The Health Information Quality Authority uncovered the situation after three separate inspections of Wexford General over a 15-month period found its hygiene standards are a “high risk to the health and welfare of patients”.

In October 2013, the facility had a hand hygiene adherence rate of 72%, far below the 90% target rate set out by the HSE.