Hospital handwashing must be mandatory
Without doubt, the E coli infection will reach our shores very soon, with possible deaths to follow. One of the biggest ways infection spreads is via hand contact.
With that in mind, I find it shocking that people can enter our hospitals without washing their hands and put very ill and vulnerable patients at risk.
Last year, while hospitalised, I spent half-an-hour watching people entering the hospital. A total of 33 people entered and only three washed their hands. Of the 20 staff who entered, not one washed their hands.
The solution is to make handwashing mandatory, both on entering and leaving the hospital/casualty department for staff, patients and visitors. Those who do not want to wash their hands should be refused admission on health and safety grounds.
Dr Aidan Hampson
Artane, Dublin
Irish Independent
