FG: One in 20 patients picks up hospital bug

One in every 20 patients gets an infection as a consequence of their time in hospital, Fine Gael has claimed.

The party is calling for a uniform system for detecting and recording the problem, claiming that thousands of people in Ireland are being affected by hospital bugs - including MRSA.

Fine Gael also wants a national director of infection control to be appointed to spearhead what it sees as essential changes.

The party's Seanad Health Spokesperson Senator Fergal Browne has called for more transparency on the extent of the issue.