Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, to provide an update to the House regarding concerns over hygiene and infection control standards a Cork University Hospital's geriatric unit.

First, I assure the Deputy that infection prevention and control is generally well-developed in acute hospitals. Indeed, prior to the pandemic all acute hospitals had outbreak teams in place. However, while it was clear that systems were in place to manage outbreaks and control further spread of the virus within hospital settings, questions arose as to the whether there was sufficient focus an outbreak prevention.

Given the insidious nature of the coronavirus, at its meeting on 31 March NPHET accepted that more can and should be done. It mandated the implementation of a suite of 29 measures to prevent transmission of the virus in acute hospitals to slow the demand for specialised healthcare, safeguard risk groups, protect healthcare workers and minimise the export of cases to other healthcare facilities and the wider community.

The HSE has established an overarching governance structure to provide oversight for all issues related to Covid-19 infection control. In addition, the Department of Health has been working with the hospital groups to implement these NPHET mandated measures across a number of different action areas, namely, governance, risk management, outbreak management, staff symptom declaration, staff segregation and adoption of social distancing guidelines.

One of the measures mandated by NPHET was a desktop review by HIQA of acute hospital infection prevention and control preparedness for Covid-19. The report of that review has now been published. While this report highlighted the progress that has been made in recent times to expand infection prevention and control, IPC, capacity and capability at acute hospitals, deficits in IPC capacity were identified. Following discussions in the Department and with the HSE, it was agreed that there was a need to consider an integrated approach to address IPC deficiencies across acute hospital and community sectors. In that regard, I am pleased, on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, to inform the House that funding of almost €4 million was recently approved to address immediate IPC requirements in acute hospital and community services. This will help to minimise and mitigate the risks of staff, patients and service users and facilitate the delivery of safe health services.

In Cork University Hospital, the care of the elderly service is delivered on Ward 1A, which is a 35-bed ward. With regard to hygiene and infection control standards, the HSE has advised that cleaning staff are based in the ward from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with hygienic service available throughout the night as necessary. The HSE has also advised that monthly hygiene audits are carried out along with annual environmental hygiene audits and that prevention and control of healthcare associated infection training is provided on a continuous basis for all staff which has been enhanced throughout the Covid-19 period.

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