Madam, - Mary Harney's suggestion of limiting hospital visiting to reduce MRSA and other hospital-acquired infections is welcome and sensible (The Irish Times, January 18th). This organisation has long recognised the need to stop treating our hospitals like Busáras and take a foot-and-mouth approach to reducing this devastating infection. Enforcing reasonable hospital visiting will certainly help to reduce the transit of bugs such as MRSA into and out of our hospitals.
The negative response of Liam Doran and the Irish Nurses Organisation is therefore bizarre and unworthy of his members. Is he simply flexing his muscles given that the INO is now embarking on fresh negotiations with the Department on pay and conditions? If so, this response is cynical and will damage the trust society places in his members.
For too long we have played politics with MRSA and hospital-acquired infection. MRSA is everyone's responsibility and everyone's fault. Mr Doran must not do a Pontius Pilate on visiting times. There is more to solving MRSA than overcrowding and lack of resources, these issues too must be tackled.
The INO must take a leadership role in educating the public about their role and responsibilities. This is not the time for vested interest groups to pursue their own agenda. Let us work together. Let us welcome initiatives and sensible ideas, regardless of who the messenger is. Mary Harney deserves support for her idea. - Yours, etc,
Dr RONAN FAWSITT, MRSA and Families, Bodalmore, Kilkenny.