Health officials have apologised for the substandard infection control practices of a hospital in north Wales.
Health officials have apologised for the substandard infection control practices of a hospital in north Wales.
Ninety six cases of Clostridium difficile (C. diff) were reported at the Glan Clwyd hospital in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, between January and May this year. At least seven patients who died at the hospital were found to be infected.
A report published on 11 August, commissioned by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) in the wake of the outbreak and a series of other issues at the hospital, identified weaknesses throughout the hierarchy, particularly in the "leadership and management" with regards to infection prevention.
Angela Hopkins, executive director of nursing, midwifery and patient services at BCUHB said: "We must apologise to the people of North Wales that our infection control practices have not been as good as they should have been."
"We hope that by commissioning and publishing this report, BCUHB can demonstrate and assure patients of the health board’s determination to make the necessary and urgent improvements."
BCUHB have already acted on several of the report’s recommendations with the introduction of a weekly monitoring system to improve accountability and communication, the creation of infection control groups in every individual hospital and the recruitment of more nurses to infection control teams.