Nearly a fifth of public hospitals in Ireland are failing to meet basic hygiene standards and pose an "immediate and significant threat" to the health of patients, a survey has found.
The first independent National Hygiene Services Quality Review, published today, found none of the State's 51 public hospitals had "very good" hygiene standards.
The audit, carried out by the Health Information and Quality Authority, gave 35 hospitals - or 68 per cent of those reviewed - a "fair" rating, suggesting they had significant room for improvement in service delivery and corporate management of hygiene standards.
Health Information and Quality Authority director John Billings
Nine hospitals were found to be operating below the minimum hygiene standards and to pose a serious risk to patients in terms of health care associated infections such as MRSA.
The assessment gave a "good" rating to only seven hospitals, which showed high standards of cleanliness and safety across the majority of wards and departments
The review, done between March and September of this year, conducted unannounced visits by the authority's assessors, as well as interviews with staff, patients and visitors
The nine hospitals which received a "poor" rating, were the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Nenagh; Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda; Our Lady's in Navan; Mallow General; Portiuncula in Galway; Roscommon County Hospital; St Mary's Orthopaedic in Cork; Wexford General; and St Michael's Hospital in Dún Laoghaire, Dublin.
The seven hospitals with a "good" rating were Tallaght; Beaumont; St James's; St Vincent's; the Rotunda; Naas General; and St Luke's in Kilkenny.
The review did suggest some hospitals have responded very creditably and the authority were encouraged by the many examples of good practice and signs of strong commitment that were evident in the course of this review.
However it concluded that it was "vital" that a programme of measures to drive down the number of health care associated infections such as MRSA be implemented.
Speaking at the publication of the national review, Health Information and Quality Authority director Jon Billings said: "It is disappointing to report that no hospital was rated as very good and only seven were rated as good.
"The overriding message to hospitals is that they can and should do better. There are too many hospitals in the fair category; if this group could improve, it would make a significant difference."
