Hiqa wants action to combat superbugs threat

The State’s health services watchdog says more needs to be done to protect patients from the growing superbug threat.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) found that a number of hospitals need “urgent support” from the HSE in addressing antimicrobial resistance.

Hiqa’s acting head of healthcare regulation, Sean Egan, said the hospitals do not have an antimicrobial stewardship programme in place and lack specialised resources.