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C-Diff fears grow at hospital
WARRINGTON Hospital has denied claims it is struggling to cope with a killer superbug.
North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages the hospital, said infection rates of deadly stomach infection Chlostridium Difficile (C-Diff) at the hospital were falling despite several deaths in recent weeks.
Kathryn Holbourn, the trust's director of nursing and governance, said: "We know that infection is a concern for people but we want to reassure them that it's an issue we take incredibly seriously.
"Our record of infection control is among the best in the North West region with a 60 per cent drop in the number of MRSA cases and a trend over the last few months of fewer cases of C-Diff."
Figures released by the trust stated infection rates have steadily fallen since May, which saw 54 patients infected while at the hospital.
However, relatives of several patients who died from C-Diff criticised cleanliness and hygiene practices of staff at the hospital.
Phil Vidamour, whose grandmother Elizabeth Crosby, of Runcorn, died last week, feared statistics may in fact hide the real problem.
| We investigate Warrington Hospital | | Click the link below the story for more. |
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"Just because they (the trust) say rates are falling, it doesn't mean they are handling the situation well," he said.
"It all depends just how bad they were beforehand."
Mr Vidamour's family is suing the hospital after they were initially told Mrs Crosby died of post-operative heart failure.
"I am just glad we pushed to get a post-mortem," he said. "When they said it was post-operative heart failure, we rejected it straight away.
"We would never have known if we didn't have a post-mortem."
Rita Wavish, whose mother Edna Birchall, aged 79, died last Thursday, said: "Warrington Hospital is getting a real reputation. People just don't want to go there anymore."
The hospital is about to embark on a national deep clean' programme, which will see every ward in the hospital undergo a vigorous cleaning operation to combat infection.
As part of the £750,000 four-month scheme, which is the biggest programme of its kind ever undertaken in the NHS, patients will be temporarily transferred from Warrington to Halton Hospital.
Mrs Holbourn said cleanliness is a main priority for hospital staff.
"We have regular inspection regimes of the wards and specialist training for our domestic staff.
"The programme we are about to start will see every ward deep cleaned and the environment improved which will help us further.
"Handwashing is also very important to stop infection spreading and it plays a role in training for all staff.
"Relatives and visitors can play an important role as well by ensuring they wash their hands before coming in to hospital."
l ON Thursday the World will descend on Warrington and Halton hospitals to spend a day behind the scenes.
We want to hear from you if you are going to be in either of the hospitals on Thursday.
There will be a webchat with North Cheshire Hospitals Trust bosses in the on Monday and we want you to send your questions in.
E-mail your questions to
newsdesk@guardiangrp.co.uk.
Visit runcornandwidnesworld.co.uk to add your comments.
Click the link below for more or see the panel at the top of the page.
8:04am Wednesday 28th November 2007
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CommentPosted by: Maria Hands, Runcorn on 10:12am Wed 28 Nov 07
I had my baby in Warrington hospital in 2005. We had complications, and were in the hospital for a week. The whole time we were there, there was a syringe under my bed. I pointed it out to a member of staff on the first day, and she said she would get someone to sort it out. It was still there when we went home.
In the whole week I was there, they brushed the ward once, and never mopped it.
I ended up getting an infection in my womb, and the doctor told me that maternity wards are 'not the cleanest places on earth'. They should be, paricularly with babies with low resistance to bacteria.
We have had so many friends have awful experiences in Warrington hospital - all of whom have commented on the hygiene. A friend of the family died there recently, at one point he had a catheter bag spill onto the floor - the mess was left there for 48 hours before it was cleaned up, despite numerous request from the family.
Warrington Hopsital is a disgrace.
I had my baby in Warrington hospital in 2005. We had complications, and were in the hospital for a week. The whole time we were there, there was a syringe under my bed. I pointed it out to a member of staff on the first day, and she said she would get someone to sort it out. It was still there when we went home.
In the whole week I was there, they brushed the ward once, and never mopped it.
I ended up getting an infection in my womb, and the doctor told me that maternity wards are 'not the cleanest places on earth'. They should be, paricularly with babies with low resistance to bacteria.
We have had so many friends have awful experiences in Warrington hospital - all of whom have commented on the hygiene. A friend of the family died there recently, at one point he had a catheter bag spill onto the floor - the mess was left there for 48 hours before it was cleaned up, despite numerous request from the family.
Warrington Hopsital is a disgrace.
Posted by: jackie vidamour, runcorn on 9:49am Thu 29 Nov 07
my mother elizabeth crosby died at warrington hospital from c-diff i would like to make a further point as to why only specialist training for domestic staff,it should be all nursing staff that are coming into contact with patients. i observed a senior nurse who did not follow any hygiene procedures treating my mum and then proceeding to treat another patient without changing gloves or washing of hands. i have many more incidents that were observed. this is a killer and staff do not take it seriously
my mother elizabeth crosby died at warrington hospital from c-diff i would like to make a further point as to why only specialist training for domestic staff,it should be all nursing staff that are coming into contact with patients. i observed a senior nurse who did not follow any hygiene procedures treating my mum and then proceeding to treat another patient without changing gloves or washing of hands. i have many more incidents that were observed. this is a killer and staff do not take it seriously
Posted by: victoria bird, runcorn on 11:46pm Thu 29 Nov 07
My husband had a colostomy last year ,everythink went wrong,thats in the past,he has gone in for a colostomy reversal last week and came out a week later,over the week end he became very ill and my doctor called an ambulance requestin it for within an hour as he was losing blood and clots from his back passage,3 hours later the ambulance arrived got into Warrington hospital at 5pm for him to be assessed,5 hours later a doctor came,next morning I called to ask how he was they said fine,twenty mins later I was called and asked to come in asap as he was really bad,he had lost 3 pints of blood and was critical,why did he have to wait 5 hrs for a doc to see him,I have no faith in this hospital,the surgeons seem ok but the before and after care is discusting,even some of the nurses look down on you and think you owe them somethink,I have now wrote to Mike Hall for an explanation why my husband was left so long,I have a 10 year old boy who thought his Daddy was dying,the system and cleanliness at this hospital is a disgrace,how many like me take in your own Cif,wipes etc and clean up needles,used swabs etc,this hospital is a death trap
My husband had a colostomy last year ,everythink went wrong,thats in the past,he has gone in for a colostomy reversal last week and came out a week later,over the week end he became very ill and my doctor called an ambulance requestin it for within an hour as he was losing blood and clots from his back passage,3 hours later the ambulance arrived got into Warrington hospital at 5pm for him to be assessed,5 hours later a doctor came,next morning I called to ask how he was they said fine,twenty mins later I was called and asked to come in asap as he was really bad,he had lost 3 pints of blood and was critical,why did he have to wait 5 hrs for a doc to see him,I have no faith in this hospital,the surgeons seem ok but the before and after care is discusting,even some of the nurses look down on you and think you owe them somethink,I have now wrote to Mike Hall for an explanation why my husband was left so long,I have a 10 year old boy who thought his Daddy was dying,the system and cleanliness at this hospital is a disgrace,how many like me take in your own Cif,wipes etc and clean up needles,used swabs etc,this hospital is a death trap
Posted by: Bee, Cheshire on 6:08pm Tue 4 Dec 07
I had a large tumor removed from my knee, aquired an infection and was told not to take anti-biotics by a certain surgeon, over 7weeks my leg de-composed and then he said "oh sorry, i will have to send you for plastic surgery, my leg is grossly scarred and i will never be able to wear a skirt or shorts again, i have lost all faith in this hospital (warrington) and will avoid going there in the future at all costs.
I had a large tumor removed from my knee, aquired an infection and was told not to take anti-biotics by a certain surgeon, over 7weeks my leg de-composed and then he said "oh sorry, i will have to send you for plastic surgery, my leg is grossly scarred and i will never be able to wear a skirt or shorts again, i have lost all faith in this hospital (warrington) and will avoid going there in the future at all costs.
Posted by: annakajo, tampa florida on 11:06pm Sun 24 Feb 08
You are being watched.
Posted by: Jennifer, Australia on 2:54pm Thu 20 Mar 08
[quote][bold]annakajo[/bold] wrote:
You are being watched.[/quote] Annakajo - [bold]Elizabeth Crosby[/bold] was also my grandmother - what is with the cryptic msg? if you were trying to be "funny" stop it - if you have something important to say - say it!
annakajo wrote:
You are being watched.
Annakajo -
Elizabeth Crosby was also my grandmother - what is with the cryptic msg? if you were trying to be "funny" stop it - if you have something important to say - say it!
Posted by: anya, Runcorn on 1:31pm Sun 4 May 08
Warrington hospital is a compleate discrace and a dirty one too. My nan went in with diabeties and never come out after contracting c-diff we went through 3 months of hell watching her in there we looked after her ourselves and even cleaned her room ourselves. There were feaces left in the mixed sex toilets used sanitary pads and no toilet roll that it was a bowel ward its discraceful i have health problems myself and need an operation i refuse full stop to even go through with it as it has to be done in warrington. Hospitals are they to make people better not kill them.
Warrington hospital is a compleate discrace and a dirty one too. My nan went in with diabeties and never come out after contracting c-diff we went through 3 months of hell watching her in there we looked after her ourselves and even cleaned her room ourselves. There were feaces left in the mixed sex toilets used sanitary pads and no toilet roll that it was a bowel ward its discraceful i have health problems myself and need an operation i refuse full stop to even go through with it as it has to be done in warrington. Hospitals are they to make people better not kill them.
Posted by: Ronnie, Runcorn on 3:50pm Sun 4 May 08
I'm not surprised British hospitals are blighted with all kinds of infections.
I've seen visitors use toilets then walk out without washing their hands. Visitors arrive wearing coats they have worn for ages without being cleaned and expect their relatives to avoid infection while they are at their most vulnerable. It has to be said that many members of the public could do better when it comes to cleanliness.
I'm not surprised British hospitals are blighted with all kinds of infections.
I've seen visitors use toilets then walk out without washing their hands. Visitors arrive wearing coats they have worn for ages without being cleaned and expect their relatives to avoid infection while they are at their most vulnerable. It has to be said that many members of the public could do better when it comes to cleanliness.
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