Poor Hygiene Shuts Vital Ward At Royal

Concerns over cleanliness at one of Northern Ireland's top hospitals are deepening with news that a vital Royal Victoria Hospital ward has been summarily closed after failing an inspection.

The neurosurgical facility failed cleanliness standards, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Agency (RQIA) confirmed.

"Our inspection team found that the ward fell short of the required standard of cleanliness. RQIA wrote to the (health) trust's chief executive asking that he takes immediate steps to improve the situation on this ward.

"The RQIA has now been advised that the Belfast Trust has now closed the ward for refurbishment."

Closure of the critical Ward 4F means that a total of nine neurosurgery beds at the west Belfast site have now been closed.

A spokesman for the Royal told the Belfast News Letter: "The trust is currently carrying out refurbishment work as agreed with the RQIA."

The RQIA is due to issue a full report of the inspection shortly.

Areas such as the handling of clinical waste, laundry and how it is stored, hand hygiene and the cleaning and storing of equipment would all have been monitored in it.

Earlier this week, a Co Antrim man slammed hygiene at the hospital after his grandson contracted a serious infection after an operation for a brain tumour.

Previously, there have also been concerns over missed targets on fracture care as only one specialist consultant is available to take just two clinics weekly.

See: Royal Hospital Infection 'Unreported'

See: Royal's Fracture Clinic Failing Patient

(BMcC/JM)