Madam, - More than 20 patients a day die from MRSA and C. difficile in the UK, according to official statistics issued last week. These figures prompt a question about the statistics here, where infection rates are similar to those in the UK.
However, the question cannot be answered because we do not keep a count of deaths from healthcare-acquired infections. Indeed, HSE chief executive Prof Brendan Drumm remarked to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children that people would be frightened if such figures were published. The HSE says it is dedicated to reducing hospital-acquired infections. But can it possibly tackle a problem when this State has steadfastly refused to keep records of its extent? - Yours, etc,
TERESA GRAHAM,
Meadowbrook,
Tramore,
Co Waterford.