Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As somebody who has not submitted a question I welcome the fact that in the city of Cork there has been a 46% reduction in MRSA cases. The significant progress we have made in Cork is something about which we should not become complacent. I believe the Minister will agree that no patient should have to endure the horror of picking up an infection in hospital. Having recently met staff in all of the Cork city hospitals on the matter, I thank the workers, the healthcare professionals and healthcare assistants, who work in the hospitals.

In light of the fact that there has been a reduction of 20% nationally, and of 46% in the case of Cork, what plans has the Department in regard to every patient having a right to feel safe in our hospitals?

It is not acceptable for people to be allowed to become seriously infected as a consequence of MRSA within hospitals, as happened in the past, in some cases leading to death.

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