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NEW REPORTS FROM the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) suggest that poor hand-washing in Irish hospitals is potentially putting patients at risk.
The reports also found wide variations in regard to hospital cleanliness. According to Phelim Quinn, Director of Regulation with HIQA, their assessments found that hand hygiene actions were not always undertaken or carried out in the right way.
The reports on 12 different hospitals showed in some there was dust and dirt on surfaces, signage not in the right areas, and blood and other substances visible on items.
A number of hospitals have now been asked by HIQA to evaluate their level of hand hygiene compliance, in the context of infection rates, in order to assess the impact on patients.
Quinn said that during the assessments, some immediate serious risks to patients were also identified. “To date, one facility has been asked to conduct a hospital-wide review of its compliance with the National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections,” he said.
The full inspection reports can be found on the HIQA website.
Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe
Hand hygiene practices observed were inconsistent with the standards and suggest that a culture of hand hygiene best practice is not operationally embedded at all levels. This poses a clear and serious risk to patients.
One out of the three clinical areas assessed was unclean. The two other clinical areas assessed were generally clean, but there were opportunities for improvement.
South Tipperary General Hospital
The Authority identified an immediate serious risk to the health and welfare of patients. Patients with communicable diseases were on the main corridor adjacent to the Emergency Department (ED) which is used as a main thoroughfare.
It observed a lack of cleanliness of both the physical environment and equipment, such as visible dirt in patient and non-patient areas. It said the culture of hand hygiene practices is not operationally embedded at all levels.
At Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny
Three clinical areas assessed were clean but there were many opportunities for improvement. Hand hygiene practices observed to be inconsistent with national standards, suggesting that a culture of hand hygiene best practice is not embedded at all levels.
This poses a clear and serious risk to patients of contracting an infection.
Mayo General Hospital
All clinical areas observed were generally clean. Overall, with a few exceptions, the cleanliness of the physical environment was well managed according to relevant national guidelines.
Hand hygiene practices observed would suggest that a culture of hand hygiene best practice is not operationally embedded at all levels.
Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children
All clinical areas observed were generally unclean, with the exception of the ED. Lack of cleanliness observed would suggest that the physical environment was not effectively managed and maintained to protect patients and reduce the spread of infections, posing a clear and serious risk to patients.
The hand hygiene practices observed would suggest that a culture of hand hygiene best practice is not operationally embedded at all levels. This also poses a serious risk.
Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise
The Authority found that the cleanliness of the environments assessed, and equipment within these areas, to be generally clean
The level of cleanliness observed would suggest that the physical environment was being effectively managed and maintained to protect service users and reduce the risk of the spread of infections.
Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin
A number of specific issues may have presented immediate serious risks to the health and welfare of patients. A patient with a transmissible disease was being cared for in a cubicle in the ED for over 30 hours; the cubicle opened directly to a corridor where other patients were being cared for.
The persons accountable for the services formally reported back with a comprehensive action plan to reduce and manage the risk in December 2012.
A culture of hand hygiene practice is not yet embedded at every level. The cleanliness of the environments and the equipment for patient use was generally clean. Best practice was not followed in relation to maintaining the cleanliness of the physical environment.
Mercy University Hospital, Cork
It was reported that curtains were changed on a weekly basis in St Anne’s Ward as standard and also following management of an infectious patient. However, documented records observed by the Authorised Persons from HIQA did not concur with this.
In a clinical area the management of an infectious patient was not in line with best practice, where the external door to an occupied isolation room was not closed. The overall findings found a moderate risk to patients.
Observations suggested that a culture of hand hygiene practice was not embedded at all levels.
Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar
The high level of cleanliness observed would suggest that the physical environment and equipment was effectively managed and maintained to protect patients and reduce the risk of spread of infections.
Suggestion a culture of hand hygiene practice was not embedded at all levels and it a concern that this poses a risk to patients.
Cavan General Hospital
The general environment was clean and free from visible dirt. However, there were opportunities for improvement identified in the ED.
Observations suggested that a culture of hand hygiene practice was not embedded at all levels and there concerns this posed a risk to patients.
The healthcare waste was not managed in line with the HSE national guidance for healthcare risk waste management, which poses a moderate risk.
Mid Western Regional Maternity Hospital, Limerick
The main entrance, stairs, stairwells, both clinical areas assessed and the areas immediately external to the wards were observed to be clean. However, there were opportunities for improvement identified. Healthcare waste was not managed in line with the HSE national guidance and this poses a moderate risk.
Suggestion that a culture of hand hygiene practices was not embedded at all levels, posing a risk to patients.
Roscommon County Hospital
Hospital entrance, stairs, stairwells, corridors and patient waiting areas observed to be clean and free from visible dust and dirt. There were opportunities for improvement in the cleanliness of the environment and equipment in both areas assessed.
Concern a culture of hand hygiene practice was not embedded at all levels posed a risk to patients. Sticky residue from adhesive tape was observed on surfaces in the resuscitation room and a tray was splashed with a substance that appeared to be blood, in the Urgent Care Unit.
Coombe Women’s University Hospital
The main entrance, stairs, stairwells, corridors and areas immediately external to the wards observed to be visibly clean and tidy. However, Our Lady’s and St Monica’s wards were unclean and there were opportunities for improvement.
Management of clean and used/contaminated linen and healthcare waste was not managed in line with the HSE national guidance.
Some non-compliance with best practice hand hygiene technique was observed. This suggests that a culture of best practice hand hygiene practice was not embedded at all levels, leading to a concern this poses a risk to patients.
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Perhaps this article should have been updated to reflect the new Central Bank rules, no?
Seems a bit of a miss alright!
Headline is incorrect. Should read – applying for a mortgage from a bank that hasn’t got a clue?
Hi Sinead,
We have a whole separate article done on what deposits are now required and there is a link included in this article in the first question. Here is the link anyway to the new mortgage rules: http://businessetc.thejournal.ie/mortgage-regulations-1906185-Jan2015/
And here is another link on what €220,000 will get you as a first-home buyer across the country: http://www.thejournal.ie/first-home-mortgage-rules-ireland-1906790-Jan2015/
Hope this helps and thanks for reading.
I really don’t understand the focus on first time buyers in the mortgage market to the exclusion of all others. Sure new people need to buy houses. But buying a house when you already have one, releasing equity for deposit, being in a chain, negative equity, affordability, trading down, etc are all far more complicated for those with houses.
We talk of a property ladder but rarely get advice or political incentives beyond getting on the first rung!
Brokers don’t always go for the best deal for the client- some will favour the bank the get the best commission from which may not always be the best or cheapest deal for the client
Steer clear of Pmtsb with them over 30
Years direct debit was returned last week for 16 cent then they charged me €10.69 for in sufficient funds and transaction I asked for a 10 euro over draft no was the ans dish it out to ter friends tgh no prob is that sad
I think every bank is same. Unpaid DD fee is always about 10 eur – even when you were to pay 5 cents DD. Just make list of your DD in a month and make sure you have enough funds on the day (or if you always come very close, but then are able to pay it up, then apply for overdraft – watch out though – there are some fees for it too…).
Plenty bankers on here this morn
Mortgage Brokers are always your best option. They deal with the bank on your behalf and help prepare the application from the outset. Log on to brm.ie to see how it works.
You manage with bit of cheeky advertising there, hence red thumbs, but I agree – unless you are very good with financial matters then brokers are way to go, there will be some fee probably in the end, but it may still be very worth it, they know the business inside out so will save you some bad decision making and lot of time.
SOme lenders don’t deal with brokers – so you might get a better deal doing the legwork yourself.
Banks do not want to speak with self employed dudes. Just for the laugh, I did an online application stating I had 90% deposit of a 400k home (looking to borrow just 40k)…And not a single phone call back!!
The article doesn’t tell me the steps on getting a mortgage at all. Were do i start!
8% deposit for a €400,000 house. That’s madness if you couldn’t afford it. I suppose you were given a credit card to splash out on after the stress of buying the house as well.
PP online again! argghh!
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