HEADS WILL ROLL

Disciplinary action against the person or persons found culpable for the increased cases of enterobacter at the neonatal unit at Mt Hope Women’s Hospital last month will be based entirely on the internal report compiled by the North West Regional Health Authority’s investigating committee.

A source told Newsday that the NWRHA has not received copies of the report from investigations done by the quality manager at the Ministry of Health. Further inquiries are taking place with persons named in the report submitted last week. A source has said careers were at stake and “a head or two will roll if required.” Since receiving a report, the NWRHA has reportedly begun remedial action. A full appraisal of quality systems is expected to determine what systems must be implemented to prevent a recurrence of conditions which resulted in the rise in enterobacter bacteria.

During his contribution to the 2004 Budget debate last Monday, Health Minister Colm Imbert said consultants from the Pan American Health Organisation will do an independent investigation at the Women’s Hospital. They will also look at morbidity, mortality and data collection at all hospitals and make recommendations on a system for getting accurate information. Imbert gave some of the general findings contained in one report on the Women’s Hospital. Among them was that staff at the Women’s Hospital are untrained in infection control, are unaware of quality systems and the hospital lacked a quality management system. The NWRHA was also found to be without written guidelines for infection control.