The Health Information and Quality Authority has said that the fabric and infrastructure of University Maternity Hospital Limerick presents ongoing challenges to the maintenance and upkeep of the building.
The report of an unannounced inspection in January, published today, says that the current infrastructure and design of the theatre department does not meet international best practice guidelines.
It says that the design and workflow of the theatre should take into account the need to prevent the risk of cross infection.
Storage areas need to be appropriate for the operational requirements of each clinical area.
HIQA says it has been informed of plans for a new custom built maternity hospital to be located on the campus at University Hospital Limerick.
But it says that the proposed new hospital will take a number of years to complete and that in the interim, any changes and measures that can be implemented to improve infection prevention and control should be progressed.
