A patients' support group has called on the Minister for Health to identify the officials within the HSE or Department of Health who are tasked with tackling hospital hygiene.
Yesterday, a report into an unannounced HIQA inspection at Beaumont hospital in north Dublin found a number of medical staff only washed their hands 'half' the time.
The Irish Patients Association says it means patients have a one in two chance of being touched by someone with dirty hands.
The Association wants HSE officals to be held to account, pointing out that MRSA is a matter of life and death, and that chronically sick patients also impact on hospital's budgets.
Stephen McMahon, Spokesperson of the Irish Patients Association, told Newstalk's Breakfast earlier that sanctions are needed, and looking only at front line staff is too easy:
The HIQA report 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.
Hospital managment has said they are dealing with the issues raised.
