MRSA & Families Network
27th February, 2007
The national MRSA conference to be held in Letterkenny next weekend is an opportunity for the general public to hear about the dangers of the hospital acquired infection. That was the message from PRO Frank Gallagher at Tuesday night’s press launch in the Ramada Hotel. A number of expert speakers will be in attendance in the Silver Tassie Hotel on next Friday evening and all day Saturday for the first national conference hosted by the Donegal branch of the MRSA & Families Network. There is no fee involved and the public is encouraged to make the most of this chance to learn about the hospital superbug.
“This is not just a national event; there is an international dimension with Paul Bergervoet, an infection control practitioner from Holland, coming to address this conference. Next weekend is an information meeting for the public to hear the experts talk about the potential threat of MRSA to the Irish health system. However, I would emphasise that our intention is not to set out to be confrontational, but to make people aware of the condition, and to ensure that all possible precautions are taken to minimise the risks to the lives of patients in hospital”, Gallagher said. All Donegal’s Dail representatives have been invited, along with the county and Town Councillors. The conference will be opened by Mayor Enda Bonner.
Rosemary Cassidy has again called on the HSE to be upfront with the general public about the condition and to implement a proper programme to tackle the scourge of MRSA. The Health and Safety Authority issued enforcement notices against 12 hospitals last year in relation to the hospital superbug.
The guest speakers will include the Junior Minister for Health and Children, Brian Lenihan, Andrew Macey, Sligo General Hospital, Dr. Kevin Kelliher, Assistant National Director of Population Health, Paul Bergervoet, Infection Control Practitioner in Holland; Dr Mary Hynes, Assistant National Director Quality Risk, Professor Hilary Humphreys, Beaumont Hospital and Royal College of Surgeons, Dr Michael Mulhern, Microbiologist, Letterkenny General Hospital, Ian Simon, MRSA legal advisor and Deputy Niall Blaney. MRSA national founding member Margaret Dawson will also address the conference, along with Tony Kavanagh who will talk about his experiences of suffering with hospital superbug. Professor Humphreys was Chairperson on the SARI Report committee, which covered the control and prevention of MRSA in hospital and the community.
Time will be set aside for people to ask questions. Early registration for the conference would be appreciated by organisers. Registration forms are available by contacting Rosemary on 9129201 or 0860558760 or by emailing rosemarycassidy@eircom.net. Forms should be returned to Rosemary Cassidy, 35 McNeely Villas, Letterkenny.
MRSA & Family Network central council members have just returned from Holland where they seen at first hand the ‘Search and Destroy’ policy which is operated by Dutch hospitals. This system has ensured that the level of Hospital Acquired Infections bears very little resemblance to the situation in Irish hospitals where MRSA has recently been described by an eminent physician as heading for an epidemic.
Back to news page.. |
