Breaking News
Call for action over hygiene standards at Galway hospitals
Galway Bay fm newsroom – The Irish Patients Association is calling on the Minister for Health to hold HSE hospital management to account for breaches in hygiene standards.
Reports published yesterday by the health watchdog, HIQA, show a number of failings in hospitals around the country, including Merlin Park Hospital in the city and Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe.
The areas assessed at Merlin Park were the elective orthopaedic ward and Ward 4 – for rehabilitation.
They found that patients with communicable infections,who should have been in isolation, shared communal toilets.
Chief Operating Officer for Galway-Roscommon Hospital Group, Tony Canavan, says sometimes, these issues are unavoidable.
Meanwhile at Portiuncula Hospital, St Francis’ ward, the maternity ward and St. Clare’s 5-day ward were all assessed.
The report found that access to rooms containing potentially hazardous chemicals was not adequately controlled.
Stephen McMahon of the IPA says no more risks can be taken when it comes to patient safety.