Do you think enough is being done to tackle MRSA in Irish hospitals?

# 70

Posted: 02/10/2009 00:56

UNTIL MRSA IS TOTALY ERADICATED NOT ENOUGH IS BEING DONE FULL STOP.

# 69

Posted: 25/09/2009 16:14

As Maurice Neligan points out - centralisation of services into a small number of hospitals creating a situation where there is over 100% bed occupancy will mean that ity is impossible to ensure adequate infection control and MRSA and all the other hospital bugs will thrive and flourish - but then from what I can see - the patient does not matter to this Minister, Government, or HSE other than being a drain on resources, which could be used on expenses and good times travelling.

# 68

Posted: 24/09/2009 22:02

Certainly not, I would totally agree with a previous comment -cleaners need to be hired direct by hospitals and have a probationary period and if they are not doing their job properly they should be shown the door. Peoples lives are at risk with this deadly disease. Bring back the matrons, and get rid of the attitudes that its not my job to clean up basic spillages if I'm a doctor or nurse surely if they are wearing gloves their are no health risks and the matter is dealt with more efficiently.

# 67

Posted: 07/01/2008 18:38

No. I worked for 15 yrs on wards as a care assistant and I could write a book on why and how hygiene standards are so low. My first few years were in the UK where the standards were very high. For a start, cleaners were trained how to clean before they set foot on the ward; and this was not a private hospital. Even down to how you use a cloth to dust furniture...never saw that once here. And as for hand-washing: a lot of staff actually don't realise (lack of education and enforcement) you must wash your hands after EACH patient. And no dirty linen on the bedtables - yes I got into trouble more than once for pointing this out to a more senior person than I. Bring back the old-style matrons - they really did enforce cleanliness.
As I said I could write a book.

# 66

Posted: 19/12/2007 19:02

This is proven by Kansas State University . And there test found that in 2 hours 97% was neutralized ,99.99% killed after 24 hours on surfaces,

Sincerely,
Grant Lalli

# 65

Posted: 19/12/2007 15:42

Martha

It may surprise you to know that most Irish hospitals still have their own cleaners doing wards and contract cleaners doing public areas.

Not all hospitals but most.

# 64

Posted: 19/12/2007 13:17

The main problem in Irish Hospitals is the use of contract cleaners who dont know HOW to clean and are not being supervised. The hospitals need to take responsibility and have their own in house staff trained properly and supervised. Rather than using contractors who are not. By hiring outside companies the hospitals have no staffing to worry about, no individual salaries, no holiday pay etc. The contract cleaning company does all that for them.

# 63

Posted: 18/12/2007 19:48

MRSA is not down to hospital hygiene alone. There have always been 'difficult' bacteria and not so difficult ones that were treatable but could kill you if you were in a weak and vulnerable state. This will never change.
BUT I do agree that we threw out the baby with the bathwater in many ways.
I have been a nurse for many years (left through disillusionment with the system & the difficulty I seen in giving the care to patients, that I had been trained to give) and we were never allowed or wanted to, wear uniform outside the hospital. In fact, we had to wear aprons on the wards and remove them every time we left the ward.
Cleaners were under the direct control of the Ward Sister and wobetide any of them that did not do their job as the Sister would inspect the ward from head to toe regularly.
This autonomomy has been taken away.

I agree with Anonymous. Get rid of the rubber gloves. They are useless. Bring back the old system. Matrons in charge and all staff on every ward reportable to the Sister in Charge.
Then we will have accountability.

# 62

Posted: 18/12/2007 15:52

MRSA Killer

There are many many technologies which claim to be able to combat MRSA. Some are good products some are not.

That is why there is a Rapid Review Panel that actually look sat these products anad decides which are good and which are not. I have had a look at a number of these technologies and 90% of them are worthless 5% have a small potential beniift 4% deserve further testing and 1% have actual evidence based benifits.

Do a google for the Rapid Review panel and you can see their findings, any company can submit their technology for testing.

look at rbds Ireland rbds.ie as one example of a company offering proven technology.

# 61

Posted: 18/12/2007 02:10

There is a product made in the USA that could neutralized 97% of MRSA in two hours killing 99.99 in 24 hours on Surfaces which includes ceilings ,walls ,safely. From your home to your hospital .
What hospital would you want be sent to if you were injured ? One with this Technology traveling through the air or one with out it ?
Sincerely ,
Grant

# 60

Posted: 26/01/2006 21:26

I would like to suggest two ways to reduce infection in our hospitals. (1) ban use of rubber gloves that only protect the wearer not the patients unless new sterile gloves are donned for each patient. I have witnessed many patients being treated without washing or changing rubber gloves. Staff might then wash and disinfect their hands properly if only for their own protection. (2) Ban medical staff wearing uniforms outside hospitals. Doctors in green can be seen shopping with stetescopes around their necks and handling money in the process in shops near the CUH in Wilton. Hardly a good idea. Some doctors may not have their greens on but can be seen walking along the street swinging their stetescopes around as they walk. I am 70 and will be terrefied if hospital admittance is necesssary until things improve, having seen two friends contract mrsa with fatal results.

# 59

Posted: 15/11/2005 14:28

The hygiene is a very important aspect in the spread or otherwise of infection in our hospitals. Yes the standards have slipped below the acceptable. However in order to reduce the risk of spreading infections other aspects must be taken into the equation. Things like overcrowding, high bed occupancy, huge workloads, poor management, lack of leadership, ancient buildings. Even with all of these hospitals will never be infection free and one must always expect that one could pick up one of these. All we can do is reduce the risk but we must tackle all the contributing factors.

# 58

Posted: 15/11/2005 14:05

have a look at http://www.vis-itltd.com/max.htm
also see the press release at the same address

# 57

Posted: 14/11/2005 21:19

All I can say is Gemma you have a lot to learn about MRSA. The staff in the Hospitals are purely to blame for MRSA. Doctors and Nurses alike are all the same. They truely dont wash their hands properly after attending patiente. Hospitals and people like Gemma would want to wake up and realise the horror orf MRSA, I suffering with it for six years and I didnt pick it up off a visitor who wiped their nose. It was from a dirty un-hygenic staff and Hospital I was admitted to.

# 56

Posted: 14/11/2005 20:38

No enough is not being done. One basic thing which is overlooked is hygiene. I worked in a hosp in Dublin for 11 yrs; and could write a book just on lack of hygiene alone. I had to report a nurse for leaving a soiled pad on top of a bed-table while she carried on with the patient. Yes I was appalled but spoke up on the spot - and I didn't care about the 'ill-feeling' towards me for the rest of the night.
Hands are regularly NOT washed between patients.
Soiled pads and clothes were discovered in a patient's wardrobe...and no; the lady in question wasn't able to put them there herself.
The old-school ways are not all bad, and in areas of hygiene they are streets ahead of 2005.

# 55

Posted: 14/11/2005 10:23

So Gemma, as you work in a hospital, how often have asked the visitors you see to wash their hands.
I would have no problem with any member of hospital staff or even nother patient or visitor, making a polite request of me.

# 54

Posted: 13/11/2005 18:28

I work in a hospital and I know for a fact that MRSA is being brought in to hospitals by patients and visitors! Ive seen people standing outside the hospital, smoking and wiping their noses, MRSA is in the nose, they come into the hospital ,touch windows, doors, beds, patients, babies, cups, forks etc. They should be the ones critisised not just the staff.

# 53

Posted: 09/11/2005 08:34

It is more than 150 years since Ignaz Semmelweiss clearly demonstrated the efficacy of hand washing in the prevention of infection. Today hand washing is probably the single most effective preventative action that anyone can undertake, YET it is still not understood, forgotten, ignored or practised badly.

As we know poor hands hygiene can be costly in terms of health and reputation.

This is a new and initiative, targeting hands washing, for use throughout the Public and Private Healthcare Sectors including GP and Dental Practices and has also significantly attracted the attention of the Health Protection Agency, the Food and Drink Federation and the Education Activities, as a novel aid to promote good hand hygiene in staff induction and training and to demonstrate and educate the pubic – both adults and children alike.

The difference is that this initiative uses modern visual techniques in animation to gain attention and improve retention within the mind of the viewer instead of lengthy text and still video or photography

Working with the Infection Control Team at Basildon University Hospital, the animation was developed starring a memorable cartoon character called MAX©, to demonstrate a correct way to wash hands so that no areas are missed.

# 52

Posted: 08/11/2005 16:19

Good grief, doctors now need audio visuals ans cartoons to tell them how to wash their hands???
I'm only of average intelligence but this was something my mother taught me before I started school.

# 51

Posted: 02/11/2005 11:10

To anonymous on 1st Nov: Do you know if they have done any measurement to check whether this works? i.e. does the level of handwashing actually improve after such projects?

# 50

Posted: 01/11/2005 16:19

I know the animation has been rolled out across a number of trusts PC's in the Private and Public sector as a screen saver on ever PC within a single site.

# 49

Posted: 31/10/2005 08:43

How will you get the doctors to view this cartoon? Since they are already above washing hands and partaking of much of the in-service education which goes on in hospitals anyway.

# 48

Posted: 27/10/2005 17:36

I am based in the UK, although not directly in the medical industry. However, through a good friend of mine I was introduced to a company who have featured highly in the UK press and who have developed, and launched with great take up, a fantastic animation programme that is aimed at the best practice for hands washing. The following is some information that I was given and I have included below.

Working with the Infection Control Team at Basildon University Hospital. UK based visual technology company, Vis-IT Ltd has developed an animation, starring a memorable cartoon character called MAX©. Using a short cartoon-style sequence, MAX© demonstrates the correct way to wash hands so that no areas are missed. Partnered by MAX© badges that encourage patients to ask healthcare workers if their hands are clean, posters and other promotional material, the campaign was launched throughout Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The animation is the default screen saver on all the Trust’s PCs and staff will be issued with MAX© badges once they have seen the animation. Over 2000 staffs within the Trust see this.

Today hands washing is probably the single most effective preventative action that any healthcare worker can undertake, YET it is still forgotten, ignored or practised badly.”

Animations have the ability to grab attention and promote retention in the memory the proof is in the viewing and the response that Vis-IT have had from adults and children alike.

This animation is available on CD-ROM as a PC screen saver or a self-loading CD and also DVD to play on TV. When I spoke to the company MD he explained that this has had a fantastic response and has been taken up by Private and Public Hospitals, Schools, Food Preparation and Restaurants and Primary Health Care Trusts. I also know that there has been some uptake in Ireland already. The animation short extract can be viewed at http://www.vis-itltd.com/max.htm

# 47

Posted: 27/10/2005 16:47

Ireland has the worst statistics for MRSA in europe. I think a lack of knowledge or pure ignorance and laziness is putting patients at risk. Handwashing is the most important task in preventing MRSA. Although most people wash their hands they don\'t do it effectively. I am a qualified general and childrens nurse and it frustrates me when people are so blatant.

# 46

Posted: 07/09/2005 13:37

No. The health and safety authority is negligent, in not insisting on hygiene, and cleanliness in hospitals. It is failing in it's duty to patients. It needs to close down wards, departments, health centers, and hospitals, who are neglegently, and criminally putting patients health, and lives at risk. It has a duty to name and shame all those who are highly paid, to protect patients, ward managers, unit managers, nurse practice department, nursing administers, infection control staff.
Hospital dirt and infection is not caused by over crowding, or staff shortages. It's caused by laziness, and sloppy, mal practices. These people want the status, prestige, and salary of these highly paid positions. But , they are too lazy, or incompetitent, or un qualified to do the job. The health and safety authority, name, and fine other businesses, and organisations, Surely it should have the moral courage to protect, the welfare, health and safety, of vulnerable ill people. Only then will hospitals, and instutions realise they also have to pull up their socks, and do the job they have been highly paid to do.

# 45

Posted: 11/07/2005 13:50

I have a neice who did 2 weeks placement in a hospital as part of a pre nursing curse and she was horrified to see that the floors did not get washed but rather were buffed twice a week. Is it any wonder we have MRSA. I had to be admitted to hospital about 5 months ago and was given a blood stained gown, spent overnight on a trolley in a filthy A&E department. When I wrote to complain I was more or less told I had imagined it. This is not good enough. I know that A&E departments are very busy, but there should still be a cleaning rota. This was not a Dublin hospital

# 44

Posted: 04/07/2005 15:46

On friday morning i went to the emergency department with a friend whos toddler had a stomach bug.
we asked repeatedly for a bowl as the child kept vomiting, eventually we took him into the bathroom,(we never got the bowl) the area should have been locked, it was disgusting, to say that was an hospital bathroom was a joke.
Okay, yes, it is a public facility but that was a disgrace.
we were scared to let the child use the toilet in case he picked up an even worse bug.
Luckily he was sent to a ward soon after, as Iwouldn\'t have liked him to use it again.

# 43

Posted: 04/07/2005 14:00

Anon, what is he world comin to when staff ahve to tbe 'taught' courtesy, civility, respect and basic hygene. Anyone who is not taught these things in the from the age of about 5, should not only not be admitted to any level of the medical profession but possibly should not be let outside their own front door without assessment.

# 42

Posted: 03/07/2005 22:29

Some nurses in our hospitals are too snobbish and grandiose to do menial tasks anymore. They think its beneath them. They fancy themselvesas "Professionals" ..
love dishing out tablets, chatting young doctors, typing up stuff on the computers..the "glamorous" part of nursing..but not making SURE the toilets aren't filthy (which I can tell them now - they ARE!). If they had the patients' welfare at heart they would have the guts to make sure that the total environment in a ward is good..ie. clean wash basins, clean sinks, clean radiators, clean toiliets,clean utensils, instruments, attentions to patients' personal hygiene, handwashing etc etc...They can dodge this by saying its the job of orderlies, cleaners, the kitchen staff etc. Its their own responsibility to make sure that hygiene is perfect. Neither is it an excuse to say that they are too busy.
If they can't keep the ward hygienic they they might as well close it. They dread being called skivvies..at the expense of who?
YOU THE PATIENT!!

# 41

Posted: 03/07/2005 21:28

No MRSA is a deadly infection and the public are not being told the full truth about it,my late husband died in 1999,6 hourse after he died blood tests were sent to the lab and the results came back that he had MRSA,yet we were not told anything about this hospital infection,or why blood tests were sent to the lab after he died,he died at 1-15am and the blood went to the lab at 8am that morning.

# 40

Posted: 03/07/2005 13:32

Certainly Hospital Employees of any description should receive indepth training regarding how patients and their relatives are entitled to be treated and how to discern the various personality types and how to approach consultations that includes the recognition of sensitive departments and the type of language and physical expressions used but certainly don't believe more of my taxes are to be spent on teaching them basic courtesy, civility and respect let alone the taxes are to be spent on teaching them basic hygiene standards and that they will have to be stood over whilst they practice filling a sink with water, using a bar of disinfectant soap and drying their hands with a paper towel. Education has got ludicrious when the simple and effective washing and sterilising of hands ends up being classed as a unit/subject in a training schedule.
As for challenging the Medics and especially Consultants many forget that it is the taxpayers money that got them their qualifications and the taxpayers pay their salary's. Being a Medic/Consultant doesn't mean that they are above being reasonably challenged for the Services and Treatments provided or their technique, communication and consultation skills if it means a patient or their relatives are treated without dignity and respect and considering the emphasis placed on bed availability being pulled up on basic hygiene by patients avoids unnecessary extra days of much needed bed availability. Hospital Staff including Management are Accountable and Responsible for the manner by which patients receive Services and Treatments and that all Services and Treatments irrespective of their importance on the Hospital's scale of determination warrant due Care, Assessment and Appropriate Action however it is noticeable that Hospital Managements, Defunct Health Boards and now the FSE's are not inclined to accept responsibility for the adverse results of the Services and Treatments provided by its Staff.
in

# 39

Posted: 29/06/2005 01:45

I see from your poll results at the top of the page that 5% of those who voted think that enough IS being done to tackle MRSA in Irish hospitals! I wonder who these 5% are? Would they be doctors, nurses, people who in charge of hygeine in hospitals, ward superintendents, "modern matrons" who want to remain popular, administration staff in hospitals and so on and on...or maybe I'm just paranoid!!

# 38

Posted: 28/06/2005 20:48

yup!Take a little bottle of parazone for the toilet and sink. No need to make a fuss.Everytime you go to visit,treat it as you would do your own bathroom and give a quick squirt! Everytime I had to go into hospital over the last ten years or so -since contractors took over cleaning, that is what i did

# 37

Posted: 27/06/2005 23:15

Re Anon 26/6/05, my son is also going in again in July, for a major op, and I am worried about the possibility of infection, particularly as we have already been warned that there is a higher chance of post-op infection due to the nature of the op. Where can you get these Milton wipes? Anybody else further suggestions as to how I can protect my son?

# 36

Posted: 27/06/2005 16:44

No, you're not a cleaning freak. Isn't it diabolical to think that people who are as ill as that, should have to take their own hygene precuations especially given the nature of the illness.

# 35

Posted: 27/06/2005 15:26

I dont think your a cleaning freak at all, just very wise a i did the same thing myself when i saw just how sadly lacking the cleaning was.

# 34

Posted: 26/06/2005 22:44

I am going into hospital tomorrow for a hysterectomy. I'm seriously concerned about the dirt of our hospitals and the MRSA risk to me following surgery. I am bringing in a packet of Milton antiseptic wipes and intend cleaning down the bed, tray, locker and floor when I am admitted to my ward. I don't care who sees me. I'm not a "cleaning" freak, and if the standard of hygiene in our hospitals and clinics was as it should be, this action on my part wouldn't be necessary. Good old fashioned hygiene doesn't cost a lot but it pays huge dividends. Let's go back to the bar of soap and a good old scrub!!

# 33

Posted: 26/06/2005 20:12

I have to agree with marina, recently i noticed wards were not being cleaned maybe quite as much as they should of been.
a lady on my ward had a stomach bug and the lady who cleaned our tables for our beds didnt wash the cloth once from going round the whole ward.
The same tables that meal trays were put on...
it is the same when the doctors checked on patients, but some times the nurses would wash their hands before going of the ward after seeing to a patient, it is easy to see how the mrsa bug is spread but getting the message across to clean enough is going to take some doing.
when a patient had gone home they barely clean the beds, just a quick wipe down and then clean sheets, how it changes from the country where they sterilise everything even the beds.

# 32

Posted: 25/06/2005 17:15

Sadly i dont think their is anywhere enough being done to prevent any bug's.
I came home last week after spending 10 days in the local general hospital, and when the consultant came round he failed to wash his hands after examining 2 of the patients on my ward.
when he came to me, i asked him could he please wash his hands first before examing me, he just gave a laugh and said " i really dont think their is any need, and i really don't have the time".
When i first went in as their had been no beds on the ward, i was given a side room, the cleaner came in and just mopped the entrance, and the bathroom she left, their was drops of blood on the floor from my intravenus drip that had comeout in the night.
But even when i was moved onto the ward it was very rare for the cleaners to do under the beds or the bathroom properley.
they seem to think it is okay for the wards to be done thouroughly once a week.
I think if they had the old fashioned matrons back their would be none of these bugs at all.
sadly after what i saw whilst in their, i would be afraid of going in to have any kind of operation, heaven help them that are.

# 31

Posted: 23/06/2005 02:21

These comments frighten me as my 9 year old son is currently waiting to go in for quite a serious operation. What can I do to protect him while he is in there?
I agree with many of the points made: when I had my two younger children I was struck by the very obvious decline in hygiene standards. The toilets went uncleaned over the weekend --not a good policy in a maternity hospital with so much blood around!
However, my son was recently in for a few days and muich greater efforts seemed to be made re hygiene: each section of the ward (6/8 bedded cubicles)was closed down in rotation over the weekend for thorough cleaning anmd disinfecting. So some efforts are being made.
And the majority of the nursing staff were fantastic in every respect, and clearly not just in it for the supposed money or freebies, as suggested.
Problem is, it only takes one... and it isn't always easy to be assertive when you-or your child more particularly-is vulnerable and dependent.