Raigmore deep clean underway

Consultant hopes ward can reopen on Monday

Deep cleaning of Ward 7C is due to start this afternoon to allow the ward to reopen after it was closed to new admissions and transfers due to an increased number of Clostridium difficile cases.
The medical ward, which was closed on the afternoon of Monday 4^th, has had two cases of Clostridium difficile which, as this is higher than would be expected, NHS Highland have been treating as an outbreak.
Dr Jonty Mills, Consultant Microbiologist at Raigmore Hospital, explained that with no new cases of Clostridium difficile in the ward since Monday deep cleaning was able to begin.
He said: “The actions we took were largely to reduce the risk of the infection spreading within the ward environment.
“We have been closely monitoring the situation and I am content that it has now come to an end and deep cleaning can begin. Our domestic team will start this late afternoon today with a view to reopening the ward on Monday.
“All staff involved, which includes the nursing team, infection control, pharmacy, clinical colleagues and our team of domestics, have worked incredibly hard throughout this week to ensure that this is kept under control and there has been no impact on the running of the hospital.”