A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Mater tries to get a handle on infection
The Mater Private Hospital in Dublin has put on trial a new hand hygiene "handle" on doors in the hospital. The Pure Hold Hygiene Handle was developed with infection experts in the UK and is already in use in several hospitals there.
Hands are the primary cause for the spread of infection in hospitals, kitchens and among the public. Health Care Acquired Infections (HCAIs) infect 8-10 per cent of hospital in-patients in the Western world and up to 20 per cent of patients in the developing world.
Majority of parents don't screen face paint for lead
Most parents say they don’t typically review the ingredients list when purchasing face paints for children, a survey conducted by the Irish Medicines Board has shown.
However over three quarters of them believe that choosing lead-free paints is an important factor to consider when making a face-paints purchase. The IMB has warned parents to be aware of the dangers posed by the contents of some children’s face paints this Halloween.
High levels of lead have been found in some brands of children’s cosmetics in recent years, and the IMB advises parents to be vigilant when buying facepaints and ensure that they are purchased from reputable sources.
Overall, more than half of the parents surveyed said that they are likely to allow their children to use face paints.
Lorraine Nolan of the IMB said: “Our survey findings suggest that while parents recognise that ‘lead-free’ is an important factor when deciding to buy face paints for children, they admitted that, in practice, actually checking the ingredients list is not something they typically do. Less than 30 per cent of parents surveyed admitted they do check ingredients.”
Ms Nolan added that while no undesirable effects from using face paints had been recorded in Ireland, “exposure is unnecessary and avoidable.
The popularity of face-paint products in Ireland increases around Halloween, and, as a result, products are coming into retailers in Ireland from a variety of sources. We’re asking parents to use a common-sense approach regarding the safety and authenticity of these products before purchasing.”
James's head claims support for hospital bid
The chief executive of St James’s Hospital said he has the support of the clinical community in Dublin for having the new National Children’s Hospital located on site.
Brian Fitzgerald said St James’s, the largest hospital in the State, has kept a relatively low profile in public lobbying because it is confident in the case it put forward to the Dolphin Group. “We don’t need to talk about issues. Others can do that. We know we can provide the best solution. It is the most superior clinical offer in the country and people know that in the clinical community,” he said. St James’s and James Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown are now the favourites to be chosen for the new National Children’s Hospital.
Mr Fitzgerald said St James’s had a superior clinical offering to Connolly Hospital and also had better transport links. “We are a €400 million business, Connolly is less than €100 million. Do you go with a very small operation or with the biggest hospital in the State, which has a pristine reputation for delivering on projects?
“If this decision is about purely for medicine for children and adolescents, we believe St James’s offers the biggest opportunity the State could have to deliver a world-class hospital.”
Mr Fitzgerald maintained that St James’s already has all the clinical services that would be needed for children accessing a national rather than a regional children’s hospital. The hospital also already has planning permission for a private hospital on the site, which is slightly lower in height than the proposed children’s hospital.
RONAN MCGREEVY