C diff death inquiry can refer to other cases

Published on Friday 4 September 2009 13:00

A PUBLIC inquiry into 18 deaths from a hospital bug outbreak can also refer to other similar cases, it was confirmed today.

Nine people died directly from Clostridium difficile in a six-month outbreak at Vale of Leven Hospital in West Dunbartonshire last year and the bug contributed to nine others.

A public inquiry was ordered by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon who said today it can refer to "other experiences" in Scotland – after 18 deaths at Glasgow's Gartnavel in 2008.

Ms Sturgeon said: "The focus of the inquiry is rightly on the 55 infections and 18 deaths associated with C diff at the Vale of Leven between December 2007 and June 2008.

"But the terms also enable the inquiry to refer to other experiences of C diff in Scotland or elsewhere."

Elgin's Dr Gray's Hospital stopped admitting patients to two wards in May when two elderly patients died, while C diff contributed to two patients' deaths in Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall, Orkney, at the start of the year.

Ms Sturgeon today launched the terms of reference for the inquiry to be chaired by Lord MacLean and said it will give a "wide remit" to examine what happened at Vale of Leven.

Both Gartnavel and Vale of Leven are covered by the same health board – Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

A priority for the inquiry will be to examine the action taken by the health board in response to C diff.

The inquiry will also examine the way C diff is identified as a factor on death certificates in Scotland.

The circumstances surrounding C diff death rates at the Vale of Leven from January 2007 onwards is a priority for the inquiry, but particularly from December 2007 to June 2008.

The systems in place at the hospital to identify cases and outbreaks and inform the public will also be examined.

The inquiry will also look at what lessons should be learned with reference to experience "within and beyond Scotland" of C diff infection.

Ms Sturgeon added: "I hope this inquiry brings answers for all the families devastated by these deaths and ensures any lessons are shared across NHS Scotland to prevent an outbreak like this from ever happening again."