Urgent inquiry call over C. diff

C. difficile is largely recognised as a hospital-acquired infection

An assembly committee has called for an urgent independent inquiry into hospital-acquired infections.

It follows the appearance before the health committee of the heads of the five health trusts at Stormont over the outbreak of clostridium difficile.

However, Chief Medical Officer Michael McBride said he was confident the review already planned into the outbreak was the best way to proceed.

Since Friday, two more deaths have been linked to the hospital bug.

They were in the Northern Trust area. A total of 36 deaths in the trust are now being linked to C. difficile.

On Friday, the Department of Health released interim figures which showed the infection was recorded on the death certificates of 77 people across Northern Ireland last year.

Speaking after Thursday's health committee session, Dr McBride said the review would be "robust and thorough".

"I understand that the current outbreak of C difficile in the Northern Trust is of great concern to the public," he said.

"Everyone has a right to safe, clean care and for that reason, the minister recently announced an extensive range of measures to reduce infections in our hospitals.

"He has also announced an independent review which will focus on the circumstances contributing to this particular outbreak."

Meanwhile, health committee member Dr Kieran Deeney said hospital staff were frightened to come forward with complaints about hospital procedures and hygiene.