People who contracted the hospital superbug MRSA died mainly "because of the underlying causes connected to the original illness which led to their being in a hospital environment", the Tánaiste has told the Dáil.
Ms Harney did not have figures at her disposal about the number of people who died purely as a result of MRSA. "I am strongly advised that it is the underlying condition rather than MRSA which causes death," she told the Green party chairman, Mr John Gormley, who asked how many people had died from the superbug and if she favoured a league table, which was being introduced in British hospitals.
The Minister said that "league tables had their uses" but she did not want a situation to develop "where the more proactive hospitals will lose out because they are taking more precautions. We must be careful about that matter". Mr Gormley said that the problem could be tackled only "if we are honest about it and categorically state that people are dying in our hospitals because of MRSA".
Ms Harney replied: "It would be a matter for the medics and not for me to decide cause of death." She added: "That clearly must be done on the basis of medical advice. It cannot be done at political direction." The Green Party TD said MRSA had been "shrouded in secrecy" in Ireland. It had emerged yesterday, he said, that the deaths of six people at the Mater hospital were linked to MRSA.
The Tánaiste reiterated her view that it was "extraordinary" that the main cause of the bug was the failure of so many people in hospital environments to observe basic hygiene rules.
