‘High risk’ hygiene issues at Drogheda hospital

Management at one of the country’s busiest hospitals has said poor maintenance of some parts of the building is due to overcrowding.

The comment is included in a hygiene inspection report carried out by health watchdog Hiqa at Our Lady Of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth, which also found concerns over hand hygiene practice; safe injection practice; and environmental and patient equipment hygiene.

The report on the unannounced inspection said that “a number of high risks were identified” at the hospital, although the situation had much improved by the time a follow-up inspection was carried out in July.