HIQA publishes latest Letterkenny University Hospital hygiene inspection report

Letterkenny University Hospital is one of three for which HIQA has published inspection reports today on measures in place to prevent the spread of infection.
As well as Letterkenny, HIQA has also published  reports on the Croom Hospital and Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar.
This inspection focussed on the Medical 3 and Dialysis facilities, and found general hygiene was acceptable.
However, the report raised particular concerns over dialysis facilities in Letterkenny where neither of the isolation rooms had a separate ventilation system.
The report notes there have been improvements since the previous inspection, particularly in Medical 2 and the Orthopedic Ward, where issues were identified previously. It also notes significant hand hygiene improvements, although that was not a specific part of this latest inspection.
The summary of the report states –
A significant level of improvement was evident in relation to hospital hygiene compared to the last HIQA inspection in 2015 and the hospital has shown that it is clearly endeavouring to implement the National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections.
The environment and patient equipment in the Renal Dialysis Unit and Medical 3 Ward were generally clean with a few exceptions. The infrastructure of the Renal Dialysis Unit was not in line with desirable modern standards for such facilities and this needs to be addressed.
Plans for an extension to the unit have been included in the hospital site development plan. Preventative measures to control nosocomial aspergillosis need to be implemented in line with national guidelines in order to protect at risk patients.
Opportunities for improvement were identified in relation to the maintenance of the main hospital entrance lobby and public toilet facilities in that area. Overall the standard of hygiene was significantly improved in the Orthopaedic Ward and Medical 2 Ward since the last HIQA inspection with some exceptions.
Care bundles for intravascular devices and urinary catheters were well embedded in the hospital. The hospital is providing leadership and consistently demonstrating Report of the unannounced inspection at Letterkenny University Hospital Health Information and Quality Authority 13 good practice in relation to care bundle implementation particularly in relation to care bundle documentation and audit and also care bundle implementation in the renal dialysis setting.
 Letterkenny University Hospital must now revise and amend its quality improvement plan (QIP) that prioritizes the improvements necessary to fully comply with the Standards. This QIP must be approved by the service provider’s identified individual who has overall executive accountability, responsibility and authority for the delivery of high quality, safe and reliable services. The QIP must be published by the hospital on its website within six weeks of the date of publication of this report and at that time, provide HIQA with details of the web link to the QIP. It is the responsibility of Letterkenny University Hospital to formulate, resource and execute its QIP to completion. HIQA will continue to monitor the hospital’s progress in implementing its QIP, as well as relevant outcome measurements and key performance indicators. Such an approach intends to assure the public that the hospital is implementing and meeting the standards, and is making quality and safety improvements that safeguard patients.
The full Letterkenny report can be accessed at https://www.hiqa.ie/social-care/find-a-centre/inspection-reports