Bird blamed for hospital maggots

Published on Monday 6 July 2009 22:03

THE carcase of a young bird has been pinpointed as the most likely source of a maggot infestation which closed the operating theatres at one of the Scotland's busiest children's hospitals.

All three operating theatres at the Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital were shut and operations cancelled last Thursday after evidence of the infestation was discovered in two of the three theatres.

The theatre where no maggots had been found reopened last Friday while investigations continued at the two other operating theatres.

NHS Grampian yesterday announced that specialists investigating the infestation now believe that the carcase of a chick, trapped in pipes in the roof above the operating complex, could be to blame.

A spokesman for the health board said: "No further infestation was found over the weekend. The specialists brought in by NHS Grampian are now focusing on pipes above theatres A and C as the possible source of the infestation. Pictures taken at the weekend are believed to show the carcase of a chick, which has been removed."

He continued: "Following a meeting between clinical staff and the specialists, it has been decided to reopen theatre A on Tuesday. It will be decontaminated this afternoon and the ceiling tiles resealed. The company will remain on site for the rest of the week."

The spokesman added: "The pest control company found high levels of hygiene generally and the roof space clean and in good order.

"Around 25 maggots were last week found by cleaners on the floor of theatres, some singly and some in clusters, apparently at various stages of development. At no time were children at risk of coming into contact with the maggots."

A total of 15 children have had operations cancelled.