UK NEWS

BASIC HYGIENE FLAWS BEHIND C DIFF DEATHS

STURGEON: 'The safety of our patients is paramount'

Thursday June 19,2008

By Paul Gilbride, Scottish Political Reporter

THE most deadly outbreak of the killer bug C Difficile in a Scottish hospital was yesterday blamed on a lack of basic hygiene measures.

MSPs were told that 16 patients died at the Vale of Leven Hospital in Alexandria where toilet areas had no handbasins, toilets were broken, cleansing materials were unavailable and patient beds were too close together.

And infection control officials sent in to find out what went wrong were told by staff at the hospital that the problems had existed for several years.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon – who knew about the fatalities four days before they were made public – said she was “shocked” by the findings and ordered a major shake-up of hygiene control procedures in hospitals across Scotland.

Health officials have identified 54 cases of the deadly Clostridium difficile (C.diff) at the Dunbar-tonshire hospital between Dec-ember and this month.

Eight patients died as a direct result and the infection was a contributory factor in a further eight deaths, according to the Scottish Govern-ment, which yesterday promised a nationwide review of dealing with hospital acquired infections. An independent review into the problems at the Vale of Leven facility was also announced yesterday, to be chaired by Public Health Professor Cairns Smith of Aberdeen University.

Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board said it would co-operate fully with the probe into patient deaths, while its own public health team will work closely with other officials. Yesterday in a Ministerial statement Ms Sturgeon told a silent Holyrood Debating Chamber the extent of the hygiene problems at the hospital.

She said: “The position at the Vale of Leven is deeply concerning. The safety of our patients is paramount. A thorough review will take place over the coming weeks.”

The Health Secretary read out a catalogue of failures within the hospital which included a lack of dedicated hand wash basins.

She also said commodes were not fit for purpose while protective equipment including gloves and aprons were not readily available. Bed spacing throughout the hospital fell short of health and safety recommendations.

Ms Sturgeon also announced moves to discover the extent of the infection. They include all hospital infection control managers collating and sharing data which will be passed the the watchdog Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and to Scottish Govern-ment health department experts.

A spokeswoman for Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS said: “The Board will co-operate fully with the Independent Review Team led by Professors Smith.”