Tag: Incident Management Team

NHS Lothian provides update on hot water issue in maternity services

NHS Lothian has put a series of temporary, proactive measures in place within maternity services at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) following the identification of an issue with hot water quality in the department.

Medical and infection prevention and control teams have assessed that any risk to mothers, babies, visitors or staff is very low and maternity services continue to operate with some short-term precautions in place.

NHS Lothian’s maternity services operate over two hospital sites and, as per the usual process, patients may be treated at either the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh or St John’s Hospital depending upon clinical need and capacity.

Late on Wednesday afternoon, discolouration was identified in hot water at a number of outlets within the maternity unit and investigations are currently underway to confirm the cause. Cold and drinking water is not affected.

Precautionary safety measures were quickly introduced and will remain in place while further assessments and actions are carried out. Following a risk assessment, the neonatal unit has temporarily paused external admissions and the birthing pools are currently out of use. These measures follow nationally recognised best practice.

Existing infection prevention and control measures – already standard across all maternity departments – remain firmly in place.

Michelle Carr, Chief Officer – Acute Services, NHS Lothian said: “We understand that this situation may cause concern and want to reassure patients, families and staff that health and safety is our highest priority and we are taking a highly precautionary approach while we work through this issue.

“Both NHS Lothian and our estates contractor are working hard to resolve the issue swiftly and the situation is being closely monitored. Enhanced infection prevention and control measures are also in place.

“We are grateful to our patients and visitors for their understanding and cooperation.”

An expert multi-disciplinary Incident Management Team – made up of infection control, water engineers, microbiological and clinical teams – has been established to oversee the investigation and ensure prompt resolution.

NHS Lothian: Investigation works in ward at New Sick Kids

Investigations are underway in a ward of the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh after a defect was identified in some patient bathrooms.

An environmental review identified the presence of mould behind a wallcovering in bathrooms in the Lochranza ward, which looks after oncology and haematology patients.

As a result, immediate precautionary measures were put in place to protect those patients who are more vulnerable to infections because of weakened immune systems while investigative works take place.

A works update meeting held on Monday heard that other bathrooms are currently being checked to ensure that no more are affected.

The ward has a number of rooms which are not used routinely, meaning the available cubicles have not been reduced, allowing the ward to function as normal and remain open.

It must be stressed that no patients are unwell as a result, and patients and families have been made aware.

There are also no concerns about the way the ward ventilation is functioning or maintained. It is believed the mould was caused by a defective join between wall and floor coverings, which allowed shower water ingress.

Walls in the bedrooms and bathrooms are intact, and the waterproof wall covering has provided a physical barrier between patients and the water damage.

Other aspects of the ward environment are also in place help to protect vulnerable patients from infection, including the provision of filtered ultraclean air into the room.

Alison Macdonald, Nurse Director, NHS Lothian, said on Tuesday: “We know this will be worrying for some families. We need to reassure them that our clinical, microbiological and infection control teams have assessed the situation as “low” risk.

“Nevertheless, this is being treated extremely seriously. Infection control measures have been enhanced and the situation is being monitored very closely.

“Patients may need to be moved into a new room while the investigation and remedial work is carried out, but families are being kept up to date.”

An expert multi-disciplinary Incident Management Team, made up of infection control, microbiological and clinical teams, has been established to oversee and direct the urgent programme of investigation and remedial works which will be carried out by the maintenance contractor.