South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Health Minister asked to extend C-DIFF inquiry to South Belfast

Published: 24 April, 2009

Balmoral Sinn Féin representative Vincent Parker has written to the Health Minister Michael McGimpsey MLA to urge him to expand the panel of inquiry into the outbreak of C-Difficile which was announced for the Northern Health and Social Care Trust hospitals to the South Belfast area.


Mr Parker said,

"As many people will be aware Belfast City Hospital and Musgrave Park Hospital have both recorded problems in regard to cases of Clostridium Difficile (C-Diff).


"South Belfast Hospitals dealt with 299 cases of Clostridium Difficile (C-Diff) between August 2007 and August 2008 and there has been one death where C-Difficile was reported as the underlying cause during this period.


"Whilst I have the highest regard for the Management and staff at both Belfast's City Hospital and Musgrave Park Hospital, I believe that when we have cases of an infection of this type there is an onus to inform the public as to the origin and cause of such an incident. It is important that public confidence is maintained in the Health Service and that everything is being done to ensure that there is no recurrence of this problem.


"The most vulnerable to this infection would seem to be the elderly and patients recovering from surgery. It is essential that the families of these patients have reassurance about the welfare and wellbeing of their loved ones when they are admitted to hospital".


He concluded,

"I believe that the best way to provide this reassurance is by extending the Public Inquiry into the deaths from C-Diff in the Northern Trust area to trust hospitals in South Belfast. I have, therefore written to the Minister for Health, Michael McGimpsey MLA, to request that that he extends this inquiry to South Belfast".

CRÍOCH