331 die in worst superbug outbreak ever recorded
Hot on the heels of recent stories of dirty hospitals raising the death toll, newspapers are reporting how vercrowded, filthy wards, shortages of nurses and financial difficulties led to 1,176 people contracting Clostridium difficile, according to the Healthcare Commission.
Over two and a half years, the infection outbreak at three Kent hospitals contributed to the deaths of 331 patients. The Healthcare Commission said that the infection – a severe form of infectious diarrhoea - probably or definitely caused the deaths of 90 patients and it was a contributing factor in the deaths of a further 241.
The number of deaths turned out to be far higher than originally declared to the media as the commission found cases where patients were probably killed by the superbug, but it was not reported on their death certificates.
A report by the commission said that some patients should have fully recovered from their initial illness but they caught the C Diff bug and died.
The report said there had been “significant failings” in infection control at the hospitals, causing the worst outbreak of a lethal superbug ever recorded in the NHS.
Dirty bathrooms and overflowing commodes were found at the Kent and Sussex, Pembury and Maidstone hospitals. Nurses were also too busy to clean their hands and equipment properly and infected patients were frequently moved in an attempt to meet waiting time targets.
The commission also said that managers at the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust were too preoccupied with hitting Government targets and had been cutting nursing staff and closing beds to help balance the books.
In May 2004, the trust’s chief executive, Rose Gibb – who has recently resigned - told the BBC she had known about the problems with cleanliness for six months, according to The Telegraph.
The report has now been sent to the Health and Safety Executive and Kent Police, who will decide if there are grounds for criminal charges.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson has also told the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust to withhold payments to Ms Gibb, pending legal advice.
Again, another story hits the national papers on the subject of the increasing risk of superbugs in hospitals. prompting individuals and families to take up health insurance and ensure that they are able to use a private hospital in the unfortunate situation of having to have medical treatment.
Over two and a half years, the infection outbreak at three Kent hospitals contributed to the deaths of 331 patients. The Healthcare Commission said that the infection – a severe form of infectious diarrhoea - probably or definitely caused the deaths of 90 patients and it was a contributing factor in the deaths of a further 241.
The number of deaths turned out to be far higher than originally declared to the media as the commission found cases where patients were probably killed by the superbug, but it was not reported on their death certificates.
A report by the commission said that some patients should have fully recovered from their initial illness but they caught the C Diff bug and died.
The report said there had been “significant failings” in infection control at the hospitals, causing the worst outbreak of a lethal superbug ever recorded in the NHS.
Dirty bathrooms and overflowing commodes were found at the Kent and Sussex, Pembury and Maidstone hospitals. Nurses were also too busy to clean their hands and equipment properly and infected patients were frequently moved in an attempt to meet waiting time targets.
The commission also said that managers at the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust were too preoccupied with hitting Government targets and had been cutting nursing staff and closing beds to help balance the books.
In May 2004, the trust’s chief executive, Rose Gibb – who has recently resigned - told the BBC she had known about the problems with cleanliness for six months, according to The Telegraph.
The report has now been sent to the Health and Safety Executive and Kent Police, who will decide if there are grounds for criminal charges.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson has also told the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust to withhold payments to Ms Gibb, pending legal advice.
Again, another story hits the national papers on the subject of the increasing risk of superbugs in hospitals. prompting individuals and families to take up health insurance and ensure that they are able to use a private hospital in the unfortunate situation of having to have medical treatment.
Labels: health insurance, health news, private medical insurance
Posted by Health Insurance News at 10:57
