THE opening of a cohort ward for C-Diff sufferers at Warrington hospital has been delayed again - but this time because there are not enough patients to fill it.
The 24-bed ward was set to open on December 9 but with only 13 patients carrying superbug Colostridium difficle the ward would have been half empty.
So instead of opening the ward now it has been delayed until the new year.
"Bed pressures mean we needed to be able to fill the ward without leaving beds empty," said director of nursing Kath Holbourn, at a hospital trust board meeting last Wednesday, December 19.
"The 13 patients are in four side rooms on that ward," she said.
"We are expecting a rise in cases of chest infections between January and March and anti-biotic prescribing will mean more C-Diff," she said.
"We certainly have improved our position significantly. We have noticed a downwards trend since August," she said.
The cohort ward, which is ward B18, has been deep cleaned and has special adaptations including changing areas for staff and restricted access.
It will open in the new year after a review.
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