Two deaths investigated for C diff

[Posted: Tue 03/11/2009 by Joanne McCarthy]

Two deaths are being investigated at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda to determine whether the hospital superbug C diff was the cause of the deaths.

Ten patients in the hospital have tested positive for the superbug, and three wards have been closed as a result of the outbreak. A further two cases are suspected.

Infection control procedures have been implemented at the hospital and the HSE is requesting that the public do not visit the hospital at this time. If a visit is essential or unavoidable the public have been asked to telephone the hospital in advance to make arrangements.

All elective admissions have also been cancelled until further notice.

GPs and ambulance services have been requested to refer adult patients with medical complaints to Louth County Hospital in Dundalk, Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan or to the nearest appropriate hospital in Dublin North. Adult patients with surgical complaints should be referred to Cavan General Hospital, Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan or the nearest appropriate hospital in Dublin North.

Members of the public are asked to only attend the Emergency Departments at the hospital in the case of a genuine emergency and to contact their GP or out of hours service in the first instance. According to the HSE, patients may experience delays in the Emergency Department. Regrettably, due to the number of beds closed to new admissions, there are delays in patients awaiting admission, the HSE said.

For more, see here.

anony  Posted: 04/11/2009 08:52

"Regrettably, due to the number of beds closed to new admissions, there are delays in patients awaiting admission, the HSE said". What is new? We hear that broken record giving this excuse for all the hospitals - sure its the same for Cavan General though the HSE would prefer if the INO did not do a count.

Naoiseor  Posted: 12/11/2009 13:34

Same old story: Go into hospital sick and come out sicker (or maybe don't come out at all)!

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