Pseudomonas update Saturday 21 January

Health Minister Edwin Poots today said the Health Service is continuing to work tirelessly to ensure that safe, specialist neonatal care remains available for all babies, following a recent outbreak of Pseudomonas in the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital Further testing now shows the numbers of confirmed infected cases of Pseudomonas to be six, as opposed to the previously reported figure of seven. There have been no new confirmed cases of pseudomonas infection.

There has been no further need to transfer mothers outside of Northern Ireland. The neonatal network is managing well and standard infection controls are in place in neonatal units. Mr Poots reassured expectant or new parents that every step would be taken to provide infants with a high level of care.

 He said: "As one would expect in circumstances such as this, there is currently extra pressure on the system, however, with the help of all neonatal units in Northern Ireland our service is coping. I fully understand the anxiety of parents and the wider community, however, we are doing everything we can to ensure safe continuity of care for the babies, and support for their families."

In some instances this may mean that mothers due to give birth or babies who require special neonatal care may be transferred to another unit. As would be current practice, this will be on the basis of specialist, clinical advice. Every precaution will continue to be taken to ensure that any risk of the spread of infection is minimised.

A team of specialists is working proactively to identify the source of the infection. Bio-decontamination of the main part of the neo-natal unit at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital began at 10am today and will take around 24 hours to complete.

Mr Poots added: "Ensuring that we eradicate the source of infection and are able to fully reopen the neonatal unit at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital as quickly as possible, remains a key priority."

In the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital, the neonatal unit is the only part affected by the Pseudomonas outbreak. The delivery wards and all other services at Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital are operating as normal. Expectant mothers should attend their appointments as scheduled.

 The Trust, PHA and the Department will continue to monitor the situation.