Family's plea for bug information

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7225657.stm

Version 0 of 1.

The family of an 82-year-old woman who has been treated for C. difficile, have said they are angry at the lack of information from the Causeway Hospital.

The pensioner was treated at the Causeway before Christmas, and has now been re-admitted with similar symptoms.

Her daughter, who did not want to be named, says families need more help.

A Northern Health Trust spokesman said he could not comment on individual cases, but staff would speak to the family if they contacted the hospital.

The woman said the hospital trust has said they are expecting more deaths from the bug, but she does not know if her mother is one of those at risk.

"That's upset us too, that's worrying us," she said.

"Is my mum one of these people that may die in the near future with C. diff or is my mum one of the patients who's on the mend?

"We're in the dark, absolutely in the dark. We don't know anything."

Last week, the Northern Health Trust, which includes the Causeway Hospital, said the bug had played a part in 20 deaths.

It said it had a further 24 patients who were infected by it.

The bacterium causes diarrhoea and can even lead to a rupturing of the bowel. It tends to affect the over 65s.