Aberdeen kids’ hospital infested with maggots
Surgery cancelled as three theatres close
Published:
OPERATIONS for sick children were today cancelled after an infestation of maggots was found at an Aberdeen hospital.
All three operating theatres at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital were shut when the maggots were discovered.
The outbreak comes just days after it was revealed Aberdeen Royal Infirmary was Scotland’s worst hospital for superbugs.
And Scotland’s Health Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was disturbed after 15 children due to have operations at the Aberdeen hospital were today still waiting for treatment.
Ms Sturgeon slammed the situation as “unacceptable” as a probe was under way to find out how the maggots got into two operating theatres at the hospital.
The third theatre was also closed as a precaution today, with a team of specialists brought in to uncover the source of the infestation.
All three theatres will remain closed until they have been scrubbed clean and when health chiefs discover how the maggots got into the hospital.
Despite the 15 cancellations, four children were operated on in the Aberdeen hospital’s accident and emergency unit.
It was thought some of the children, whose conditions were believed to be for ears, throats and noses, were in urgent need of the operations.
Ms Sturgeon called on North-east health bosses to sort out the crisis and demanded that children in need of care got the help they needed.
She said: “I am very disturbed to learn about this incident.
“We all expect the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene in our hospitals, particularly in operating theatres.
“This situation is unacceptable and I am pleased NHS Grampian is investigating as a matter of urgency.
“I expect them to establish the cause of the maggots as quickly as possible and take immediate steps to rectify it and ensure there is no repeat.
“I also expect the health board to do everything possible to minimise disruption to hospital services and make sure alternative theatre facilities continue to be used until the closed theatres re-open.”
Parents with children at the maggot-infested hospital today spoke of their shock.
Jill Beattie, 43, of Blackburn, an auxiliary nurse at another Aberdeen hospital, had taken her daughter Megan, 8, to the children’s hospital for an eye condition.
She said she expected “higher standards” in a hospital of its size and said cleanliness should be “the most important thing”.
Another mum, Emma Carrison, 29, of Bucksburn, said: “We’ve heard nothing but glowing reports about this place.
“So this definitely comes as a great shock. It just sounds so unhygienic.”
The maggot outbreak was today branded “despicable” by a North-east MSP.
Conservative politician Alex Johnstone said: “It’s shocking this has happened in a hospital used to perform key operations on our children.
“It’s a despicable situation.”
Today NHS Grampian refused a request to speak to its chief executive Richard Carey to explain the maggot outbreak.
But the health board did apologise to the families of all children affected.
An NHS Grampian spokeswoman said: “Families and patients are being kept informed and NHS Grampian apologises for any inconvenience this temporary measure may cause.”
Health board officials also refused to say if the theatres would re-open on Monday.
The government has just appointed Susan Brimelow as Scotland’s first hospital inspector.
She will carry out a series of nationwide, unannounced checks to uncover dirty wards and stop infections spreading, starting this autumn.
And just days ago it was announced 438 patients were diagnosed with C-diff in one year at the city’s biggest hospital, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
