Inquiry as six patients die within fortnight

AN INVESTIGATION was under way last night at a nursing home in Co Donegal where six patients have died over the past fortnight.

The HSE said that five of the deaths at the Nazareth House nursing home in Fahan outside Buncrana, which is run by the Sisters of Nazareth religious congregation, had taken place in a cluster over the past five days.

It also said the deaths of the six residents may have resulted from a “respiratory-type illness”.

It is understood there are about 39 residents at the home. The HSE said the residents were receiving either active or preventive treatment.

Visiting restrictions have been put in place at the home.

Minister for Health James Reilly said he had held talks with the patient safety agency, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), on the issue after hearing news of the deaths.

On foot of that conversation, Hiqa was visiting the home last night and today “to ensure that all action is taken in the best interests of the care and welfare of the residents and staff”, the Department of Health said in a statement.

The department said Dr Reilly and Minister of State for Older People Kathleen Lynch had been advised that the HSE had put in place all appropriate treatment and control measures and was closely managing and monitoring the situation. It said that Dr Reilly and Ms Lynch had expressed their condolences to the families of those who died.

Dr Darina O’Flanagan, director of the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre, said an outbreak control team had been in the home investigating. She said that some of the patients who had died had been admitted to hospital last week.

“It looks like this may be a viral outbreak ... it may turn out to be influenza,” she said.

Dr Peter Wright, director of public health, HSE North West, said: “Respiratory illness is a common cause of death in older people. The public health team will work closely with the nursing home management to determine the nature of the illness. Samples have been sent to the National Viral Reference Laboratory for determination.”

Results are expected back from the laboratory later today.

It is understood some members of staff at the home also contracted the respiratory-type illness. All six who died are understood to have been over 80.

One woman, whose elderly mother is in the home, said “a lot of people are very worried” the illness could spread further.

There was nobody available to comment at the home when it was contacted last night.