An inspection of Beaumont Hospital in Dublin in mid-August found patients in the cancer unit were being treated too close to each other, increasing the risk of people passing on the flu or other infections, according to an article on the Independent website.
The unit did not have designated isolation facilities. Access to an additional exit door near the patient toilet was obstructed with equipment and the unit also housed a fish tank.
A separate inspection of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda found a range of infection control weaknesses including the risk of Legionnaires from its water supply.
Inspectors found progress was made in addressing risks, but facilities for handwashing and overcrowding in wards remained a concern.