Hospitals urged to improve hygiene standards

All hospitals should aim to improve their cleanliness standards in the next round of hygiene inspections, the Irish Patients’ Association said today.

The association is hosting a Clean Hospitals Summit in Dublin today, in a bid to raise hygiene standards across the health system.

The conference is bringing together 250 healthcare professionals from across the public hospital system to share their expertise.

Chief executives, microbiologists, clinical nurses, cleaners and other auxiliary staff are all taking part in the summit, along with a number of speakers from different disciplines.

Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney is also due to attend.

“The challenge we shall be laying down during the day is for all of the hospitals to do better in the hygiene audit the next time round,” Irish Patients’ Association chairman Stephen McMahon said.

He said the conference was aimed at helping people work together and use structures such as the Health Service Executive to improve standards.