Commenting on the announcement of an infection concern regarding colonoscopy equipment in Crumlin Children’s Hospital, local Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, said that the latest news from Crumlin Children’s Hospital is unacceptable and doesn’t engender confidence in the system at use there.

The hospital originally said that 18 patients had possibly been affected by a contaminated colonoscopy, but it later said that another 7 new patients, separate from the 18 who had been given the all-clear, are now being contacted about the colonoscopy contamination.

It appears that what happened was that when they did a quality assurance check on the scopes back on 6 July, there were two scopes that didn’t pass the test and were contaminated with ESBL (extended-spectrum beta-lactamases).

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“It is distressing for children and parents that such a vital piece of hospital equipment as a colonoscopy scope, was contaminated and may have passed on an infection to patients.

“While the hospital states that there is no immediate impact on children’s health, they also state that the bug in question can cause problems for patients receiving intensive care or chemotherapy.

“As Crumlin is the main centre for treatment of children with cancer this is a huge concern and this latest mix up doesn’t engender confidence in the hospital system.

“The hospital and the Health Service Executive must now do all in their power to reassure parents and children that all necessary remedial measures are being taken and that such an infection incident will not occur again.

“I welcome the latest news that the system of decontamination equipment is being upgraded in the hospital and the remarks of HSE Director General Tony O’Brien who described the handling of the issue as: ‘a catastrophic failure of the incident management process’.

“Mr O Brien also said that a “root cause analysis” would be carried out by the HSE’s National Director of Quality and Patient Safety.

“Parents and patients are expecting radical changes to ensure this type of incident doesn’t happen again.”

ENDS