James Breen (Clare, Independent)
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Question 347: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to her meeting victims of the MRSA superbug and their relatives, her plans to tackle this deadly virus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1327/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Tackling the problems associated with health care associated infections, including MRSA, continues to be a priority for my Department and the Health Service Executive.

I recently wrote to Professor Drumm, chief executive of the Health Service Executive, regarding issues raised by the relatives and victims of MRSA at our meeting. With regard to the communication of information to patients infected with MRSA, my Department understands that the HSE intends to issue a direction to hospitals on this matter. The HSE is reviewing the national policy on hospital visiting times with a view to issuing revised guidance to hospitals. With regard to the discharge from hospital of patients with MRSA, the HSE is considering how best to ensure that good practice and the proper procedures are followed in all such cases.

The publication of the revised SARI guidelines on the control and prevention of MRSA in hospitals and in the community, the clean hands campaign, the national hygiene audits and the development of national standards for infection control and hospital hygiene are some of the measures aimed at bringing about change in the hospital system. The HSE has announced that the second national hygiene audit of acute hospitals will commence in February and will assess the extent of the improvements made at hospital level since the publication of the first audit report.

It is now a matter for the HSE to continue to develop and implement the necessary strategies needed to ensure the effective control of health care associated infections.