Report finds 'fair' tandard of hygiene at Portiuncula hospital

Ballinasloe"s Portiuncula Hospital maintains a 'fair' standard of hygiene, according to a new national report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). This rating represents a marginal improvement for the hospital after it was deemed to have a 'poor' standard of hygiene when last assessed by the HIQA in 2007. One of the report"s findings was that much work had been completed over the last year to update hygiene procedures at the 203-bed hospital. Patient satisfaction surveys had been conducted and the information was used to help improve services, the report said. It added that a patients" forum is planned at the hospital but has not yet been established. 'The hospital implemented a programme of technical and managerial audits and evidence was demonstrated of actions as a consequence of these,' the report said. It also said that Portiuncula was in the process for developing its annual report based on a new template. Of the 50 hospitals surveyed nationally, only one (Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital) was given a 'very good' hygiene rating. Eleven were considered to have a 'good' hygiene standard, 29 were rated as 'fair,' while nine hospitals - including Roscommon County Hospital and the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar - were found to have a 'poor' standard of hygiene. Health Minister Mary Harney welcomed the fact that there had been an overall improvement in hospital hygiene during 2008, but said the gap was still too wide between the better and worse performers. 'My Department as well as the HSE are currently examining the results in detail with a view to taking further targeted initiatives early in the new year to ensure that the measurable improvements achieved in 2008 are further built upon in 2009. The aim is that the high standards that have now been achieved in some hospitals must be replicated right across the service,' she said. The full report on each hospital can be viewed online at: www.hiqa.ie