Hospital lashed as report outlines "poor" hygiene

Blood splatters on hospital trolleys and curtains and intravenous stands being stands being stored in a toilet were among the hygiene issues outlined in the 2008 Hygiene Services Quality Review of the Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar.The review places the hospital in the bottom 20 per cent of Ireland"s hospitals in terms of hygiene and is reflected in a drop from last year"s rating of "Fair" to the 2008 rating of "Poor".The annual review, conducted by the Health Information and Quality Authority assessed the hospital"s hygiene practices and policy.The review is carried out through spot checks, interviews and reviewing documentation compiled by the hospital staff. Special emphasis is placed on core criteria in the report.The Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar fared poorly on three core criteria in the report with a D rating, representing a score of between 15 and 40per cent.Under the heading "the team ensures the organisation"s equipment, medical devices and cleaning devices are managed and clean", there were serious issues.The report revealed there was heavy dust on all equipment in use at patients bedsides, evidence of adhesive glue on some pieces of equipment and no evidence of a system for cleaning medical devices, These failures represent a risk to the health of patients, the report found.In another of the core criteria under the title, "the team insures the organisation"s physical environment and facilities are clean", a number of failings were found.The findings included evidence of dead flies on some high level surfaces, heavy dust in clinical areas on fixtures, equipment and signage throughout the organisation and a 24 hour urine collection jar being held in a common patient bathroom together with spare jars containing hydrochloric acid.Under the same title the reports showed, 'there was evidence of blood splatters on patient trolleys and disposable curtains' and 'the assisted toilet in the emergency department was also used to store gas cylinders and intravenous stands'.Further concerns were raised over the storage of cleaning products in an 'unlocked utility room easily accessible by children' and the fact that there was 'no evidence of documented processes for recording the cleaning of toilets in clinical areas'.Another core criteria, "the team ensures the organisation"s kitchens(including ward/department kitchens) are managed and maintained in accordance with evidence based best practice and current legislation", faced further hygiene issues.According to the report, there was no evidence of staff wearing protective equipment such as gloves, aprons or hairnets in the ward kitchens.At ward level, 'there was no evidence of a division of roles between catering and cleaning' and there were live flies in one kitchen ward area which was inspected.The hospital did score highly in three of the core criteria. In the storage, handling and disposal of hazardous materials such as sharps(needles) and in the maintaining and disposal of linen and soft furnishings the hospital was given an A rating.An A rating was also secured by the hospital for the implementation of a hygiene service through a multidisciplinary team in cooperation with providers from other teams, programmes and organisations.A total of 50 hospitals were reviewed by the Health and Information and Quality Authority. The hospitals were rated very good, good, fair and poor.Inspectors rated nine hospitals, including Mullingar, as poor and only one hospital, Cappagh National Orthopedic Hospital, achieved a very good rating.