Call for manslaughter charges in Wales.

North Wales AM Llyr Gruffydd has suggested that North Wales police should examine how Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board responded to warnings about C.diff. cases. Mr Gruffydd has suggested it is time to consider whether there might be a case to answer in terms of corporate manslaughter. He said “part of the criteria there needs to be, clearly, gross breach of the duty of care by senior managers”.

Between January and May there were 96 cases of C.diff at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Denbighshire. 30 patients died whilst suffering from the infection.

Although the Chairman and Vice Chairman stood down and the Chief Executive also stood down on health grounds no-one at BCUHB has been disciplined.

Despite warnings of a possible outbreak, the Health Board are said to have failed to act quickly enough to prevent it. Numbers of infection control nurses had been cut, and there were not enough isolation beds at the hospital to help stop the infection spreading.

Kim Daniells of the CNCI team said "C.diff. is a deeply distressing and disabling infection. Those suffering symptoms have to be nursed in isolation. The condition can lead to severe dehydration and weight loss. For individuals who are already unwell the complications can be life threatening. Charges of gross negligence manslaughter in these cases are rare but their consideration in this case indicates the serious nature of this outbreak".