- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when the vacancy for a consultant microbiologist at the Vale of Leven Hospital was filled.
Answer
I am advised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that there is no vacancy for a Consultant Microbiologist post at the Vale of Leven. Since the former Argyll and Clyde Health Board’s laboratory clinical reorganisation in 2004, this position has been covered by the Consultant Microbiologists at the Royal Alexandria Hospital and the Inverclyde Royal Hospital.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had been reviewing the staffing of the infection control team at the Vale of Leven Hospital prior to the news of the outbreak of clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital being released to the local media.
Answer
I am advised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that there has been an on-going review of infection control structures and a new structure came into place in May this year.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive why no specialised infection control team was immediately set up at the Vale of Leven Hospital as soon as NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde learned that there had been deaths at the hospital caused by clostridium difficile.
Answer
It would not be appropriate for me to comment until the independent review announced by me on 18 June 2008 has examined all the circumstances surrounding the clostridium difficile cases at the Vale of Leven. The review team’s report is due to be published by the end of July 2008.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the employment of one infection control nurse covering all infection monitoring at the Vale of Leven Hospital to be sufficient and whether it considers that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde should increase the number of people in the infection control team based at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
Answer
It would not be appropriate for me to comment until the independent review announced by me on 18 June 2008 has examined all the circumstances surrounding the clostridium difficile cases at the Vale of Leven. The review team’s report is due to be published by the end of July 2008.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people now make up the infection control team based at the Vale of Leven Hospital and what positions they hold.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14359 on 14 July 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that lack of knowledge on the causes, and control measures to prevent the spread, of clostridium difficile among staff at the Vale of Leven Hospital were a contributory factor to its outbreak.
Answer
It would not be appropriate for me to comment until the independent review announced by me on 18 June 2008 has examined all the circumstances surrounding the clostridium difficile cases at the Vale of Leven. The review team’s report is due to be published by the end of July 2008.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive why there is only one nurse based at the Vale of Leven Hospital who is solely responsible for infection control.
Answer
I am advised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that prior to April 2008 there were two infection control nurses employed at the Vale of Leven Hospital - the lead nurse for Clyde (operational base) and the infection control nurse for the Vale of Leven Hospital.
The lead nurse for Clyde had responsibility for the whole of the Clyde area of the NHS board and was not solely for the Vale of Leven Hospital. The lead nurse retired and her position has been filled by an infection control nurse based at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. Support is also provided, as and when required, by senior infection control nurses based at the Royal Alexandria Hospital and the Inverclyde Royal Hospital.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many extra nurses, auxiliaries and cleaners were drafted into the Vale of Leven Hospital to deal specifically with the outbreak of clostridium difficile; how long they remained at the Vale of Leven Hospital to assist, and from which hospitals they drafted in.
Answer
I am advised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that following a meeting of the Outbreak Control Team on 10 June, an additional Infection Control Nurse from the Infection Control Team located at the Glasgow Western Infirmary was based at the Vale of Leven Hospital for a two-week period to help implement the actions agreed by the Outbreak Control Team. The board’s Hand Hygiene Co-ordinator was also based at the Vale of Leven Hospital for a seven day period between 12 and 26 of June.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all members of staff at the Vale of Leven Hospital have received training on the causes of clostridium difficile and how it should be dealt with.
Answer
I am advised by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that education on management of patients with clostridium difficle has been provided to all staff at ward and departmental level by Infection Control Nurses. Clostridium difficile care bundles and care plans have also been introduced at the hospital and education has been provided on the use of these documents which instruct staff on the safe management of patients. More generally, all staff at the Vale of Leven Hospital are given Infection Control Training as part of their corporate induction and new medical staff are given Infection Control education on induction.
In addition, the board’s Hand Hygiene Coordinator has audited every department at the Vale of Leven Hospital. Following this recent audit, hand hygiene training has been provided for all staff. The Cleanliness Champions programme is also in place at the hospital.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many deaths occurred in Scotland as a result of clostridium difficile (a) in 2006, (b) in 2007 and (c) up to June 2008, broken down by (i) NHS board and (ii) hospital.
Answer
It should be noted that it is unusual for clostridium difficile to be an isolated cause of death, as a range of contributory factors are normally involved. Data for 2007 and 2008 is not yet available. The following table shows data where clostridium difficile was recorded as the underlying cause of death on death certificates in 2006 only, broken down by NHS board and hospital.
| NHS Board | Hospital | Number of Deaths |
| Ayrshire and Arran | | 5 |
| | Ayr Hospital | 1 |
| | Ayrshire Central Hospital | 1 |
| | Crosshouse Hospital | 3 |
| Borders | | 3 |
| | Borders General Hospital | 3 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | | 6 |
| | Annan Hospital | 1 |
| | Dumfries/Galloway Royal Infirmary | 5 |
| Forth Valley | | 8 |
| | Falkirk & District Royal Infirmary | 6 |
| | Stirling Royal Infirmary | 2 |
| Fife | | 10 |
| | Queen Margaret Hospital | 5 |
| | Victoria Hospital | 5 |
| | Non-Hospital | 1 |
| Grampian | | 9 |
| | Aberdeen Royal Infirmary | 4 |
| | Doctor Gray''s Hospital | 2 |
| | Woodend Hospital | 3 |
| Greater Glasgow | | 36 |
| | Gartnavel General Hospital | 3 |
| | Glasgow Royal Infirmary | 3 |
| | Inverclyde Royal Hospital | 4 |
| | Royal Alexandra Hospital | 6 |
| | Southern General Hospital | 2 |
| | Stobhill Hospital | 6 |
| | Vale of Leven Hospital | 1 |
| | Victoria Infirmary | 6 |
| | Victoria Infirmary, Geriatric Unit | 2 |
| | Western Infirmary | 2 |
| | Western Infirmary, Beatson Oncology Centre | 1 |
| | Non-Hospital | 3 |
| Highland | | 2 |
| | Raigmore Hospital | 2 |
| Lanarkshire | | 26 |
| | Coathill Hospital | 2 |
| | Hairmyres Hospital | 12 |
| | Monklands General Hospital | 6 |
| | Wester Moffat Hospital | 1 |
| | Wishaw General Hospital | 5 |
| | Non-Hospital | 2 |
| Lothian | | 40 |
| | Astley Ainslie Hospital | 2 |
| | Corstorphine Hospital | 1 |
| | Ellen''s Glen House | 1 |
| | Findlay House | 1 |
| | Liberton Hospital | 11 |
| | New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh | 11 |
| | Royal Victoria Hospital | 5 |
| | St John''s Hospital | 1 |
| | Western General Hospital | 7 |
| Tayside | | 11 |
| | Arbroath Infirmary | 1 |
| | Ninewells Hospital | 9 |
| | Royal Victoria Hospital | 1 |
| | Non-hospital | 2 |
| Scotland | | 164 |
| | Hospital | 156 |
| | Non-Hospital | 8 |
