C diff alert after patient relapse at second hospital

A PATIENT who contracted Clostridium difficile (C diff) at a hospital in Inverness has shown symptoms of the infection at another hospital.

The patient had been considered well enough to be discharged from Raigmore Hospital into the care of Belford Hospital in Fort William. However, NHS Highland said the patient had since a relapse.

The person was being cared for separately from other patients at Belford Hospital. They were one of eight people to contract the potentially fatal bug at Raigmore in the past month. The eighth patient fell ill to the infection on Friday.

The ward, which has been closed to new admissions or transfers, now has three patients who have been confirmed with C diff and showing mild symptoms of the bug. A spokeswoman for NHS Highland said last night: “There have been no new cases today. The three patients in ward 4C and the patient at Belford Hospital have mild symptoms and are recovering.”