Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The organisation MRSA and Families continues its work of collating the incidence of MRSA arising from hospitalisations in this State and will hold its second annual conference this weekend in Waterford. Is the Minister aware that the incidence of MRSA is increasing? Is she aware of the recent shocking case of a woman who presented at one of our hospitals for the removal of a kidney stone? She contracted MRSA through bed sores in her ankles and left hospital with both legs amputated. That is an astonishing fact. Does the Minister agree these are all preventable tragedies? What we require is proper hygiene and supervision and the implementation of the guidelines laid down as far back as 1995. Yet we see the alarming increase in infections and deaths being recorded. The Minister made a point about the coroner's office. Has she noted the requirement stipulated recently by the Dublin City Coroner for doctors to report to him all cases of death from MRSA prior to signing the death certificate? Does she accept this demonstrates the need for proper recording of these deaths? I believe this reflects the serious and growing concern among the public that the true extent of MRSA infection and its role as a primary or contributory secondary factor of deaths in our hospitals is not being recorded in all cases. While the Minister may show comparisons with neighbouring countries, as she did in her initial response, the truth is, as indicated by the concerns raised by the Dublin City Coroner, that the problem is much worse than the statistics suggest.

Will the Minister initiate action with her colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell to insist that all coroners emulate the action of their Dublin city colleague? I am just looking at a number of particular points I believe are essential. For instance, will the Minister establish a national directorate for the inspection, prevention and control of MRSA? Will she expand the role of the Health Information and Quality Authority as regards MRSA? Does the Minister agree that these are specific actions that could aid the objective of reducing the incidence of MRSA to the maximum possible extent?

I accept the Minister is aware and appreciates the great frustration, hurt and pain of families who have lost loved ones to MRSA as well as those people who have had the harrowing experience of the loss of both legs as a result of being infected while in hospital merely for the removal of a kidney stone. I know she must share the same feelings. Will she now take on board the call of the MRSA and Families network for a public inquiry into the non-implementation of the 1995 guidelines? We need to see the guidelines for the control of MRSA implemented. Will she consider the example of a redress board, which the network has demanded, for the victims of MRSA in our hospitals?

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