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| Bug hospital avoids prosecution | Bug hospital avoids prosecution |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A hospital at the centre of a Clostridium difficile outbreak which caused 33 deaths will not face criminal proceedings, safety officials say. | A hospital at the centre of a Clostridium difficile outbreak which caused 33 deaths will not face criminal proceedings, safety officials say. |
| The Health and Safety Executive ruled there was not enough admissible evidence to prosecute Stoke Mandeville Hospital bosses in Buckinghamshire. | The Health and Safety Executive ruled there was not enough admissible evidence to prosecute Stoke Mandeville Hospital bosses in Buckinghamshire. |
| But the HSE said there were areas where the hospital could have done more. | But the HSE said there were areas where the hospital could have done more. |
| It comes after a watchdog found "serious failings" by management in their handling of the outbreaks. | It comes after a watchdog found "serious failings" by management in their handling of the outbreaks. |
| On the basis of the evidence available, HSE did not find sufficient admissible evidence to be able to bring criminal proceedings against the Trust, alleging a link between management failures and particular deaths Sandra Caldwell, Health and Safety Executive | |
| The Healthcare Commission said the hospital, run by the Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust, failed to follow advice on stopping the spread of infection. | The Healthcare Commission said the hospital, run by the Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust, failed to follow advice on stopping the spread of infection. |
| Two outbreaks took place at the Aylesbury hospital between October 2003 and June 2005, and overall 334 patients were infected. | Two outbreaks took place at the Aylesbury hospital between October 2003 and June 2005, and overall 334 patients were infected. |
| The bacterium usually cause diarrhoea but can lead to fevers or more serious infections. | The bacterium usually cause diarrhoea but can lead to fevers or more serious infections. |
| Failings | Failings |
| The HSE is also investigating the handling of C. difficile outbreaks at Kent's Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust in which 90 people died. | The HSE is also investigating the handling of C. difficile outbreaks at Kent's Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust in which 90 people died. |
| Sandra Caldwell, HSE director of field operations said they launched the investigation into Stoke Mandeville because there was the possibility that serious criminal offences had been committed. | Sandra Caldwell, HSE director of field operations said they launched the investigation into Stoke Mandeville because there was the possibility that serious criminal offences had been committed. |
| But added: "On the basis of the evidence available, HSE did not find sufficient admissible evidence to be able to bring criminal proceedings against the Trust, alleging a link between management failures and particular deaths." | But added: "On the basis of the evidence available, HSE did not find sufficient admissible evidence to be able to bring criminal proceedings against the Trust, alleging a link between management failures and particular deaths." |
| "However, the investigation did reveal a number of areas where more could have been done by Stoke Mandeville. | "However, the investigation did reveal a number of areas where more could have been done by Stoke Mandeville. |
| "We understand these have already been implemented by the Trust." | "We understand these have already been implemented by the Trust." |
| CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE The bacteria are naturally present in the intestine but kept under control by other bacteriaAntibiotics can kill some of these, allowing C. difficile to take holdOveruse of antibiotics is linked to the infection's riseC. difficile is not resistant to treatment, but some cases are difficult to treatThe strain seen at Stoke Mandeville hospital is related to one which has emerged in the US and Canada | |
| One particular concern highlighted by the report was that the Trust did not have a contingency plan in place meaning managers were always on the "back foot". | One particular concern highlighted by the report was that the Trust did not have a contingency plan in place meaning managers were always on the "back foot". |
| Recent inspections by the Healthcare Commission have revealed that Stoke Mandeville Hospital has made "sufficient progress" in improving standards. | |
| However, more needs to be done on hand washing by doctors and staffing levels on wards. | |
| Ian Biggs, head of the Healthcare Commission in the South West said the hospital was now a "much safer place". | |
| "We have confidence that a large proportion of recommendations we made have been followed through by the Trust." | |
| But he said they had spotted some doctors were not routinely washing their hands between patients. | |
| "The Trust have now launched disciplinary proceedings against doctors who are not compliant." |