In November, we saw a release of infection rate data from Lara Giddings. There are a few unanswered questions that still remain.
1. When will see hospitals named in such reports. The opposition called for “full tranparency”, but the government has remained quiet.
2. Why are there such differences in rates e.g. on hospital has three times as much MRSA as another.
3. Where is the evaluation of cleanliness? If a hospital is dirty and unclean it will lead to more infections. The reports published discuss the fact that environmental cleanliness is a factor in infection for patients. I have visited hospitals a few times and found bloody tissues on floors and dusty fans (blowing presumably dirt into patients) as just simple examples of uncleanliess.
4. Some areas of the hospitals are admitedly harder to clean as they are so old and in such more condition. When is either side of politics going to take infections in hospitals seriously.
After all, it infection in Tasmania are costing more than 25,000 lost bed days every year, if we reduced then, wouldn’t we have lower waiting lists and less crowded/busy services??
John
