The health watchdog HIQA has criticised three hospitals including Letterkenny University Hospital for failing to put basic measures in place to prevent the spread of infection.
In its latest tranche of reports, it has highlighted concerns over Letterkenny, Croom and Castlebar hospitals.
It raised particular concerns over dialysis facilities in Letterkenny University Hospital – where neither of the isolation rooms had a separate ventilation system.
“Neither of the two isolation rooms in the main dialysis unit had a separate ventilation system, nor were there anterooms for putting on and removing personal protective equipment”, it found.
“These rooms were small in size and only one of these single rooms had an en-suite toilet.
“One of the rooms had two doors, of which one opened directly into the main unit; this is not in line with best practice”, it found.
But it also found that since the last inspection, the hospital had invested in “improvement and upgrade works” in some clinical areas, and has an ongoing patient area renovation programme.
It also said a leak around a large window – which extended over multiple levels on the front of the hospital building – had been addressed.
In the orthopaedic ward, three isolation rooms with en-suite facilities had been renovated and refurbished – and there were plans for further improvement of patient areas and ancillary rooms.
“The hospital had also invested in new equipment including commodes, bedside lockers, bedside tables and drip stands. A mattress and bed replacement programme was in place so that damaged mattresses could be replaced. There were regular checks of mattress integrity,” HIQA said.
All inspections were unannounced.
