HIQA has identified overcrowding in emergency departments as a risk factor in Irish hospitals. The agency which is tasked with monitoring the safety and quality of the health system has compiled inspection reports carried out in 49 acute hospitals.
It shows that almost one-third of hand hygiene opportunities are missed.
This report is a compilation of a number of previously published inspection reports by HIQA. It identifies inappropriate accommodation of patients outside of screened treatment bays as a risk factor.
HIQA also mentions extra beds placed into wards as another problem.
But it is hand hygiene that is shown to be the single most commonly identified risk factor. It says 31% of hand hygiene opportunities observed by the inspectors were missed.
Arising from the inspections formal notice of serious hygiene risks has been issued to 13 out of 49 hospitals. Half of these notifications are related to hand-washing.
Seven facilities were inspected twice following initial checks.
The results are also contained in a HIQA infographic below:
