WATCH: New Brunswick Auditor General Kim MacPherson released her second report of the year Tuesday. This time including investigations into infectious disease prevention within hospitals. Global’s Laura Brown has the details.
FREDERICTON – The province’s auditor general has found cases of inadequate practices to help control and prevent infections within New Brunswick’s hospitals.
Kim MacPherson said that after visiting eight hospitals across the province, she found deficiencies including healthcare workers failing to clean their hands properly, the improper storage of biomedical waste and the overcrowding in certain treatment areas.
She also found a number of issues with the delivery, storage and usage of clothing and linens.
“Based on the number and variety of deficiencies we observed, we believe there is inadequate monitoring of infection prevention and control policies and practices in hospitals,” said MacPherson. “We also conclude RHAs [Regional Health Authorities] need to strengthen enforcement of policies and procedures.”
One in every 10 patients admitted to hospital will get an infection. About 12,000 deaths in Canada are caused by these infections each year.
New Brunswick hospitals reported 228 cases of C. difficile and three cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in 2013-2014.
MacPherson’s recommendations include:
- addressing Regional Health Authorities’ deficiencies and inconsistencies within their respective infection control programs
- performing regular “walk arounds” by infection prevention and control professionals and all managers to observe compliance with policies and procedures
- developing a provincial infection prevention and control program and strategy in consultation with the RHAs
- enhancing public reporting on the effectiveness of infection prevention and control program.
MacPherson said the Department of Health and two health authorities were cooperative throughout the audit and responded “favourably and proactively” to the recommendations.
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Poor government management of private wood supply
MacPherson also identified areas within the Department of Natural Resources where they could improve in managing the province’s private wood supply and silviculture programs.
She said the department has no documented, measurable goals and objectives for private wood supply nor does the department publicly report on the state of the province’s forests.
Her recommendations include:
- the Department of Natural Resources set goals and objectives so there is a way to measure success in fulfilling its mandate regarding private woodlots
- make those goals and objectives public through a report
- having the department review the commissions mandate and performance to ensure government objectives are being achieved
- establish marketing board oversight targets against which the commission can evaluate performance in critical areas.
There are about 42,000 private woodlot owners throughout the province, covering 30 per cent of New Brunswick’s forested area.
Private wood sales exceed $50 million in 2013.
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