Welsh Assembly Member, Llyr Huws Gruffydd, is calling for a corporate manslaughter investigation to be launched into the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board following the fatal outbreak of the superbug Clostridium Difficile at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Hospital.
Ninety six patients were infected at the hospital in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, causing 30 deaths between January and May this year.
Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Hospital has been criticised for failing to prevent the superbug; the number of infection control nurses had been cut, and there were an insufficient number of isolated beds to limit the spread of the epidemic.
Sian Thompson, a clinical negligence solicitor at Thompsons Solicitors, said: “There were high levels of patient infection and mortality rates. There must be some accountability for the 30 lives that have been lost as a result of this superbug outbreak.
“The families and friends who have lost loved ones will want answers, and the wider community will want reassurance that the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is implementing urgent changes.
“There must have been systemic failures in infection control to lead to this level of outbreak of Clostridium Difficile. An investigation will have to look at why patient care and safety wasn’t properly safeguarded when it should be of utmost priority in any hospital.
“We are very aware that this is a worrying and confusing time for those affected as well as their relatives and for others who may have passed through the hospital at the time of the outbreak. We have produced a short fact sheet answering some of the legal questions people may have which is available here.”
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