The Public Inquiry into the Outbreak of Clostridium difficile in Northern Trust Hospitals was ordered by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey and began on 31 March 2009.  The Inquiry was chaired by Dame Deirdre Hine who was assisted by a panel including Professor Robert Stout, Dr Jocelyn Cornwell and Mrs Eleanor Hayes.

The Public Inquiry, which was launched in 2009, was asked to establish how many deaths occurred in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust hospitals during the outbreak, for which C difficile was the underlying cause of death, or was a condition contributing to death. It was also asked to report on the experiences of patients and others who were affected directly by the outbreak.

The final report of the Public Inquiry into the Outbreak of Clostridium difficile in Northern Trust Hospitals is available to download from the Inquiry website at www.cdiffinquiry.org/inquiry-report.htm

Current figures on rates of Clostridium difficile are available to download at

NISRA figures on deaths related to C difficile are available from the NISRA website at

A full copy of the Health Minister’s Statement on C difficile to the Assembly is available to download.