Originally published January 9 2006
Health trust begins investigation into eye infections
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Craigavon Health Trust is looking into the possible reasons behind four cases of serious eye infection, out of a group of 162 patients who underwent similar surgeries, but officials believe that the higher rate of infection has nothing to do with the surgical team that performed the procedures at South Tyrone Hospital.
The team, contracted by Craigavon Health Trust, carried out surgery a few weeks ago at South Tyrone Hospital in Dungannon to relieve NHS waiting lists.
Four out of 162 patients had to be transferred later to the Royal Victoria Hospital after developing infections.
Trust chief executive John Templeton said a thorough inquiry had begun.
Mr Templeton said patient safety was their primary interest and they were "leaving no stone unturned" in their inquiry into what went wrong.
He said he "would be very surprised" if the infections were the fault of the surgical team, who were UK-trained.
"This was a very high quality team - I personally would have been quite confident for these people to carry out an operative procedure on me or any member of my family," he said.
Both Craigavon Health Trust and the private contractor, Aspen Medical, have begun investigations.
The inquiries have so far been unable to find any cause for the higher infection rate.
In the summer, the government set a target that no-one should have to wait longer than six months for cataract surgery.
Two hospital trusts brought in surgical teams from outside Northern Ireland who carried out a total of 162 operations.
Four elderly people were subsequently treated for serious eye infections in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
This infection rate is about 18 times higher than in some other hospitals.
Mr Templeton said three of the patients have since been discharged from hospital.
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