Inquiry into C. Diff bug outbreak

A public inquiry is to be set up to examine the recent outbreak of Clostridium Difficile (C. Diff) in the Northern Health Trust area.

From July 2007 to August 2008, more than 60 deaths were linked to the bug.

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey told the assembly that even after receiving a report from a regulatory body, questions remain.

"I want to restore public confidence in the safety and quality of healthcare," he said.

He told assembly members one question was exactly how many people had died in the outbreak.

"I believe we need to hear from the people who have suffered as a result of this outbreak, that is, the patients who contracted the infection, their families and the people who lost loved ones," he said.

"We owe it to them to provide an opportunity to have their voices heard and we need to listen to their accounts so that we can learn from their experiences.

"For these reasons, I have decided to hold a public inquiry that will examine these questions.

"I will advise the assembly in due course of the terms of reference and the membership of the inquiry team."

He said the Department of Health would "get on" with implementing the 17 recommendations in the review of the outbreak, carried out by Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority.

Ward level

Mr McGimspey said that the Northern Trust appeared to be as well prepared as any other trust in Northern Ireland to deal with an outbreak, according to the report.

"However, the review also found that the trust did not have good systems in place to ensure that policies adopted by the trust board were being implemented and observed at ward level," he added.

"For example, an antibiotic policy was in place but there were problems with adherence to it."

The outbreak at the Trust was declared over in August.