Investigation at Swansea hospital after two babies die from E. Coli  

01 Dec 2011

The local health board in Swansea has launched an investigation at Singleton Hospital in the city after two babies died from E. coli.

It has been confirmed by the local health board that the maternity and neonatal unit at the hospital have undergone a complete deep clean following the death of the two babies. In total there have been five cases of E. coli identified at the hospital, which experts have reported are related to ESBL E. coli, a less common strain of the infection than E. coli O157.

Following the outbreak the hospital’s maternity unit has been re-opened for full-term births, but it remains closed to births involving 36 weeks and under gestation.

Mandy Luckman, an expert in medical negligence at Irwin Mitchell, said that the health authorities must work quickly to determine how the infection broke out.

She said: “It is hugely concerning to hear of the terrible problems at the hospital and, while it is welcome to hear of the steps taken to control the infection, it is vital that lessons are learned from these issues.

“The families of those affected by the problems at the maternity and neonatal unit, as well as other patients, will be desperate for answers over what happened at the hospital.

“We hope that the investigations underway are able to provide a clear picture of how this infection occurred with a view to ensuring that the same terrible consequences do not arise in the future, either at this hospital or other sites across the UK.”

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