Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the additional measures she has put in place to address the crisis situation in hospitals in the North East region, and the potential for similar situations in other regions, as a result of the recent outbreak of C Difficile in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth and at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, with consequent closure of wards and beds, cancellation of operations, procedures and appointments and a ban on visiting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45525/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Health Care Associated Infections (HCAIs) continue to be a challenge for healthcare systems worldwide. Ireland is not unique in this regard and tackling HCAIs here, including Clostridium difficile, continues to be a priority for the government and for the HSE.

National Guidelines for the Surveillance, Management and Control of C. difficile-associated disease continue to be implemented on an ongoing basis in both Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady's Hospitals so as to minimise the impact of any outbreak of the disease on patients, staff and the general public.

Emergency infection control procedures and practices were put in place as soon as the outbreak in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital was reported on the 28th of October. These included an Outbreak Committee, convened in accordance with the national guidelines; increased restrictions on the use of certain antibiotics, laxatives and other drugs in line with expert advice and three wards in the hospital were identified and used to implement stringent isolation and control measures. The above measures including decontamination of all clinical areas also took place in Our Lady's Hospital Navan after the announcement of the outbreak there on 13th November.

During the peak of the outbreak, certain services at both hospitals were suspended and urgent cases were referred to other hospitals in the region and to the three North Dublin Hospitals.

As the epidemiological curve related to the C. Difficile outbreak in both hospitals has tailed off these services have resumed since 2nd of December. However, the following temporary changes remain in place: until the refurbishment of the orthopaedic service at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital is finalised in mid-late January 2010, hip fracture surgery for the over-65s will be carried out in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan and no elective orthopaedic work will be carried out in Navan until hip fracture surgery resumes in Our Lady of Lourdes.

Additional hygiene protection measures taken during the outbreak at both hospitals remain in force, being cognisant of the H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) threat. Members of the public have been asked to only attend the Emergency Department at the Hospitals in the case of a genuine emergency and to contact their GP or out-of-hours services in the first instance. Visiting restrictions as per National Hospital Guidelines will remain in place in all hospitals in Louth and Meath in an effort to protect patients and staff and prevent further spread of infection.

I am satisfied that the C. difficile outbreak was managed appropriately. The potential for similar situations in other regions cannot be ruled out but I am satisfied that significant steps are being taken to reduce the rate of HCAIs generally and to treat them promptly when they occur.