The body was discovered at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness
Health chiefs in the north have defended their record despite failing to achieve their most recent target for preventing the potentially life-threatening Clostridium difficile (C-diff) infection.
A report to yesterday’s NHS Highland board meeting, in Inverness, revealed that according to figures still to be officially validated, the region recorded 40.6 cases between October and December last year. The national target is 32 cases or fewer per 100,000 occupied hospital bed days.
As of March 11, NHS Highland recorded 87 cases against a target of 78 by the end of March.
Putting the figures into context, board chairman Garry Coutts said: “It’s important to remember that C-diff levels are still extraordinarily low.
“They’re at a very, very low level and NHS Highland’s levels are low compared to the rest of Scotland, generally.
“Having said that, any C-diff is serious and we put an awful lot of resources from our senior microbiologists and doctors and infection control staff to try and find out what’s happened, to see how we can stop it. We will not give up our vigilance on C-diff.”
NHS Highland bosses pledge vigilance on C-diff rates
