Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Hygiene has a factor to play in all of this, but the biggest contribution is made by the over-prescription of antibiotics. We must not forget that, as all the very strong evidence suggests, this is what has made our immune system so vulnerable to acquiring all kinds of infections, particularly in the developed world. Hygiene is still a factor and hospitals should be run to the highest possible standards. We have made major efforts over the past year with good and interesting results. The newest hospitals or those with most resources did not necessarily do best. In many cases old hospitals did well as a result of management. One of the first tasks of the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, is to examine the matter of hospital acquired infection, particularly MRSA. I agree with the Deputy that HIQA is the appropriate body to do this.

The National Hospitals Office is headed by Mr. John O'Brien. He has a number of staff and is considering the recruitment of additional personnel for infection control. Staff are reporting to him on this matter and in time there may be a director at this level. One must consider who should be responsible in each health care setting, which is more important in the first instance.

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