Hospital escapes C.diff charges
Thursday, 15 Nov 2007 15:16
"Serious failings" were found in hygiene standards at the trust
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No legal action is to be taken against a hospital trust in which at least 33 patients died of the healthcare-associated infection clostridium difficile (C.diff).
The decision was made following investigations by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into two outbreaks that caused the deaths and infection of 334 other patients at Stoke Mandeville hospital between October 1st 2003 and June 30th 2005.
HSE field operations director Sandra Caldwell said there is not "sufficient admissible evidence" to link management failures at the Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS trust and particular deaths.
"We did find some breaches relating to the requirements to keep documents," she added.
"However, as these were not directly linked to any of the deaths and were of a relatively minor nature, HSE decided that it would not be in the public interest to bring legal proceedings against the trust and its managers in relation to these matters."
Concerns were raised about the plans in place to manage hospital hygiene and how to respond to infection outbreaks.
The HSE said weak plans meant that when the two outbreaks of C.diff occurred "managers were constantly having to respond to events rather than being able to implement and follow well thought out solutions to foreseeable circumstances".
Last year a report from the Healthcare Commission (HC) found "serious failings" at Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS trust.
But in a study released yesterday by the HC, the health watchdog said "significant changes" have been made and infection control is now a "top priority" in the trust with all 11 requirements of the Hygiene Code being met.
Ian Biggs, head of the HC in the south-west, said trust staff should be congratulated on improvements and patients reassured.
"Our most important finding is that Stoke Mandeville hospital is now a much safer place," he added. "I am glad to see that patient safety is now being given key priority."
Checks will be continued to ensure that the HC's recommendations stay in place.