A whistleblower has claimed that up to 30 patients have died at University Hospital Limerick after being infected with drug resistant superbugs.
The Irish Times reports that the HSE staff member has pointed to a long-term failure by local health managers to adequately tackle an outbreak of infection at the hospital dating back to 2009.
The woman claims she was victimised after highlighting her concerns to the Heath Information and Quality Authority in 2014.
At the time, HIQA sent inspectors to the Dooradoyle facility and published a report criticising infection controls at the hospital.
The woman is said to have disclosed information to Health Minister Simon Harris last month including the names of 29 patients whose deaths, its claimed, were multi-drug resistant postive and "associated" with the hospital.
The patients are reported to have died between 2012 and 2014.
The Irish Times also reports today that new cases of multidrug-resistant bugs continue to occur.
Eight new cases were detected in the hospital between April and June this year and a further three in local nursing homes
