Warning did not mention baby death

Health Minister Edwin Poots was made aware of the Pseudomonas outbreak at Altnagelvin Hospital the day before a baby died of the infection on December 14.

But a subsequent warning sent around Northern Ireland’s hospitals on December 22 did not specifically mention the death in Londonderry.

The Minister outlined his response to the pseudomonas outbreak, which claimed the lives of four babies in Londonderry and Belfast, in response to an Assembly Question tabled by Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) MLA Jim Allister.

After he was made aware of the Pseudomonas outbreak in Londonderry on December 13 he said the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Estates Officer sent a joint letter on December 22 reminding the service of the infection risks associated with water systems.

He said the letter did not mention the death of Caoimhe Campbell and Gavin Burke’s son 10-day-old son Caolan on December 14 as focusing on the death could have implied the outbreak was localised in Londonderry.

Equally, the discovery of a contaminated tap at Altnagelvin was not mentioned because tests were still being processed at the time the letter was circulated.

Mr Poots stated: “This letter did not refer to the contaminated tap that was identified in Altnagelvin on 14 December because additional specialised tests identifying the particular strain of Pseudomonas bacteria were still being processed. “Therefore it had not been established at that stage whether this tap could have contributed to the infections that had occurred. A reference to this tap could have been misleading and was not necessary for the purposes of the letter.

“The priority on 22 December was to focus attention on the risks from water sources; the actions required; and on the importance of good infection

prevention and control.

“The letter of 22 December did not mention the death of the baby in Altnagelvin because Pseudomonas can cause infection in any clinical area where there are immunocompromised or debilitated patients.

“For that reason, the letter was issued to a wide group of staff, as it applied to a number of clinical areas. Focusing on the death of a child in the neonatal unit in Altnagelvin could have implied that this was a problem localised to Altnagelvin or to neonatal units only.”

The Minister also explained that whilst the use of sterile water for nappy changes was only rolled out at all HSC Trusts after a teleconference on Saturday, January 21, the practice had been established in Londonderry and Belfast before that date.

“Before then the Western Trust and the Belfast Trust had already adopted this measure in response to the cases and Pseudomonas colonisation of babies in their neonatal units.

“The region-wide approach was reiterated and clarified in a joint letter of 28 January to the Trusts, PHA and HSC Board issued by the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Estates Officer,” stated Mr Poots.