In response the hospital has re-audited its hand hygiene compliance - all beds have been deep cleaned, the system for decontaminating ventilator wires has been improved and the arrangements for collecting clinical waste has been revised. 

A hygiene inspection at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital has unearthed a 'number of failings' which HIQA believes pose a 'serious risk' to the health of patients.

The unannounced inspection at the hospital was undertaken in July - and uncovered that a number of medical staff only washed their hands "half the time".

Beaumont - one of the country's largest major acute hospitals - has now been ordered to respond to the report - and draw up a plan to improve its standards.

The unannounced inspection at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital took place across three areas of the hospital on the 23rd of July - the emergency department, the neurosurgical intensive care unit and the transplant ward.

HIQA's report says hand-washing is the single most important measure to stop the spread of infections and that staff at Beaumont fell well short of the mark - putting patients at risk.

Inspectors observed 60 opportunities for medical staff to wash their hands - less than half of which were taken.

They also found that some medical staff wore the same apron across a number of rounds; hazardous materials and syringes were kept in unlocked rooms and some soiled and infected linen was kept in a 'dirty' utility room.

The hospital also stated that it recognises "that these measures have not been sufficient and in line with the HIQA Report.   A Quality Improvement Programme is being developed which will be published in the coming weeks.  This Action Plan has been drawn up by a high level multi disciplinary team reporting regularly to the CEO and the Board."