Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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This may not be the most important issue facing the country today, but it is an issue that impacts on a number of fathers who wish to attend scans or other antenatal appointments or at the labour ward during delivery with their wives. I attended the birth of my two children and Deputy Mattie McGrath has informed me he attended the births of his eight children. Attendance at the birth of children is much more in vogue now than when I was born.

I wish to pay tribute to all the staff in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, which is the hospital of choice for parents in my constituency of Meath East. The staff there do tremendous work and there is a massive throughput of patients through the hospital. I have spoken about the maternity unit there on previous occasions here. A number of fathers and mothers are upset that currently they cannot attend together the various appointments required during pregnancy. I understand that fathers are not being admitted during scans or for antenatal appointments and that they are only admitted for part of the labour. This issue was raised with me by constituents and has been confirmed to be the case. I understand there can be issues of hygiene and am aware there was an issue in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital recently with regard to Clostridium difficile. However, the HSE should be able to work out arrangements whereby a father can attend all appointments and admittances of the mother of his child. The advice to us regarded this as important and I found it an important experience.

I ask the HSE to reconsider this issue bearing in mind the hygiene requirements and the need to prevent the spread of disease. It should come to some compromise arrangements in this regard.

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Mary Harney. I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue.

The HSE issued national guidelines on visiting policy to hospitals in September 2006. These guidelines reflect a balance between the needs of patients, their visitors, hospital staff and hospital procedures which allow for the most effective delivery of safe healthcare services. The guidelines state that the welfare of patients must always be considered in determining the approach taken. The potential for the spread of infection must also be taken into account.

With regard to the issue raised by the Deputy, the HSE has informed the Department that in line with preventative infection control procedures, visiting restrictions are in place generally in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, including the maternity unit. The HSE is advising women that they should be accompanied by one birth partner only when in the labour ward. Women are also requested to attend for antenatal scan alone. However, in certain circumstances a partner may be admitted following discussion with the relevant ward manager. Furthermore, all women with appointments are advised by the HSE that children should not attend the hospital with them. These procedures have been put in place because of recent outbreaks of hospital acquired infections in the hospital. They form a central part of eliminating and preventing recurrence of such infections.

Tackling all healthcare associated infections, HCAIs, continues to be a priority for the Government and the HSE. While it is not possible to completely prevent outbreaks due to these infections, simple interventions can minimise their effects. In 2007, the HSE launched a national infection control action plan. An infection control steering group within the HSE is responsible for overseeing the implementation of this plan. Over the period of the plan, the HSE aims to reduce HCAIs by 20%.

The Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, since its establishment in 2007, has also taken significant steps in the area of infection control. A core function of the authority is to set standards on safety and quality of health services and to monitor enforcement of those standards in an open and transparent way. In 2007, HIQA developed national hygiene standards and commenced a programme of audit against these standards. In May 2009, HIQA published its national standards for the prevention and control of health care associated infections to provide an overall framework for health and social care providers to prevent or minimise the occurrence of such infections. The HSE is in discussion with HIQA on the implementation of the standards. Patient safety is of paramount importance and I am satisfied that significant steps are being taken to reduce the rates of health care associated infections generally and to treat them promptly when they occur.