Probes to focus on failure to inform HSE of crisis

An investigation into how a serious flu outbreak at a private nursing home led to the deaths of six residents and infected 27 others will focus on why the facility failed to inform authorities of the crisis in time.

Senior HSE officials last night confirmed they have concerns over why the service’s public health officials were not told of the escalating problem until Sunday night, when five deaths had occurred — a clear breach of national protocols.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, HSE North West public health director Dr Peter Wright declined to comment on whether lives could have been saved if management at Nazareth House private nursing home contacted them in time.

He acknowledged there are concerns over what occurred between the first death on Mar 22 and when the HSE was informed on Sunday night.

He said there are also questions over why infected residents were not isolated while the death rate was still rising.

Dr Wright said 11 residents were continuing to show signs of the influenza type A (H3) seasonal virus and admitted authorities were “concerned” over the safety of “a small number” of these people, one of whom is in a serious condition in hospital.

He said two of the six residents who passed away did not receive the flu vaccine this winter, while five staff also took sick leave due to the infection — one of whom has yet to recover.

Separate HSE and Health Information Quality Authority probes will focus on these issues, he said.

Health Protection Surveillance Centre director Darina O’Flanagan said tests on all those infected confirmed the outbreak — which led to deaths on Mar 22, two on Mar 29, Mar 31, Apr 1 and Apr 2 — was caused solely by the seasonal flu.

She noted that as the yearly flu vaccine focuses on what strains are most likely to affect people the public should be aware that it is an “imperfect fit”.

Further details on the outbreak came as Donegal TD Joe McHugh called for a full investigation during a private meeting with Health Minister James Reilly.

Mr McHugh said he has been contacted by families who fear for relatives at the nursing home.

“They are owed an explanation as to why their loved ones died and I would welcome a report into these deaths. It is the least that can be done,” he said.

Nazareth House, which recently changed management, has enjoyed one of the best nursing home reputations in the area and had a waiting list for people who wished to be transferred there.