Hospital bug fears grow
Health chiefs are refusing to confirm if anyone has died at the Mid Ulster Hospital as a result of contracting the deadly Clostridium Difficile superbug.
So far 20 people have died since the killer strain first attacked vulnerable patients in hospitals across the Northern Health and Social Care Trust area.
A total of seven people have died in January alone.
However, trust bosses are refusing to say if any of the fatalities have occurred at the Magherafelt hospital.
A trust spokesman did confirm that five people are being treated for the killer bug in special isolation rooms at the hospital.
It is understood medical bosses have become increasingly concerned by the bug outbreak in Magherafelt and are considering moving people struck down by it to Antrim Area Hospital, which has a special infection unit.
Northern Trust Chief Executive, Norma Evans, said everything possible was being done to contain the bug.
“It has been a difficult week for patients and staff and indeed for visitors to our hospitals,” she said. “I am pleased however that our rigorous approach during the month of January is beginning to show a more positive turn. The Trust Infection Control Action Team, established to monitor and manage the outbreak, meets weekly to assess progress.
“The team is also carefully looking at our use of antibiotics and has worked with colleagues in General Practice to develop a prescribing policy that has been issued to all GPs and our staff.
I would wish to thank all those members of the public who followed the re-newed instructions given at each of our hospitals; this regime must continue, we cannot afford to be complacent and while I am pleased that figures are showing a downward trend, I know it will be some weeks before we can reasonably say that the situation has returned to normal.”
Last week the County Derry Post highlighted the death of Draperstown woman Rose Reid. The 83-year-old contracted the bug after being treated at Antrim Area Hospital.
