Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I wish to draw the Taoiseach's attention to what he said in his reply. The first two reports were carried out for the HSE by external contractors from the UK. This report was carried out by HIQA, which evolved from the Health Service Accreditation Board, using peer review group systems here so it is more robust. The Taoiseach suggests the first two reports cannot be compared to the latest one but the Department of Health and Children terms this audit as the third report. The Department of Health and Children and the HSE relied on standards set in the previous two reports, which were conducted for the HSE by external contractors. If the figures in the first two reports were inaccurately positive, the Department of Health and Children deems this as HIQA's report.

The Taoiseach has not said whether he is satisfied that every hospital has a real hygiene management programme. He mentioned that contractors are paid enough to do their jobs but does he not feel that to realise the high standards to which everyone is entitled, pay should be related to reform of the health service? This does not appear to be Government policy in other areas regarding performance and pay.

Problems like this will arise because hospitals here operate at 100% occupancy while international best practice suggests 85% is the correct level. This is a problem in many hospitals; for example, Beaumont Hospital where one in three patients with MRSA cannot be isolated due to a lack of beds. This is a cause of huge concern for people attending hospital for treatment. The infection control team in Beaumont Hospital says that due to overcrowding, staff shortages and poor compliance with hand hygiene, outbreaks of otherwise preventable infections have occurred. However, it is good to note that many hospitals provide the appropriate solution with which visitors can wash their hands.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, notes that Ireland has 2.8 acute hospital beds per 1,000 people compared to the OECD average of 3.9. Does the Taoiseach accept that more hospital beds are needed to allow trained specialist cleaners deal with the high levels of bed occupancy?

Does the Taoiseach accept, despite the many promises of his Government and the absent Minister for Health and Children, this report is another indication of his failure to implement a management system which oversees a public hospital hygiene programme that will stand up to scrutiny? I am glad that the inspections were unannounced but an ongoing hospital hygiene programme is needed. Will inspections of private hospitals be carried out in the same manner?

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