A series of reports into hygiene in Irish Hospitals has identified visible dirt in patient and non-patient areas in South Tipperary General hospital.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published the results of 12 unannounced inspections today and says the results vary widely.
In South Tipperary HIQA found an immediate serious risk to the health and welfare of patients.
In the Coombe in Dublin 2 wards were found to be unclean, while clinical areas in Crumlin Children's Hospital were unclean.
Potentially putting patients at risk
The Authority has published a dozen reports today after going into hospitals around the country the unannounced inspections of hygiene.
HIQA found that poor hand-washing in many Irish hospitals is potentially putting patients at risk of Infection.
The Authority also found wide variations in regard to hospital cleanliness.
South-Tipperary General Hospital was single out for not having a culture of hand-washing and inspectors found visible dirt in patient and non-patient areas, inappropriate storage of unclean, infected linen and evidence that equipment was not being cleaned properly.
HIQA also found that the Coombe Maternity Hospital had certain unclean wards.
Meanwhile all areas in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin were found to be generally unclean with the exception of the Emergency Department.
HIQA says it will continue with announced and unannounced assessments "to ensure that hospitals have implemented their quality improvement plans, in order to provide assurances to the public that the National Standards are being implemented, and that patients are being safeguarded".
Phelim Quinn is Director of Regulation with HIQA.
He says all hospitals inspected will have to prepare a follow up action plan.
