Gardiner seeks meeting over 35 MRSA deaths in Craigavon
Sam Gardiner MLA, the Ulster Unionist Assemblyman for Upper Bann, is to seek a meeting with the Chief Executive of the Craigavon Area Hospitals Groups HSS Trust, and with Health Minister Michael McGimpsey, following the disclosure in the Assembly that Craigavon Area Hospitals have the worst record for MRSA in the Province over the past 5 years.
“I am disturbed by the figures made available by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey and I intend to discuss these figures with both him and with the Chief Executive of the Craigavon Area Hospitals Groups HSS Trust.”
“Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust has had 35 deaths from MRSA in the past five years. This compares to 20 in the Royal Group of Hospitals, 17 in Altnagelvin, 24 in the Ulster Hospital, 11 in the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, 6 in the Causeway Trust and only 1 in the Green Park trust. I am shocked by Craigavon’s position at the top of the table – well clear of Belfast City Hospital in second place with 27 deaths.”
“This is not the kind of table Craigavon wants to be at the head of. It is a table of death.”
“The vast bulk of these deaths occurred in Craigavon and not in Lurgan or South Tyrone. Craigavon accounts for 15% of all MRSA deaths in the Province. There are questions that need an answer.”