Statement from Health Minister following death of third baby at Royal Victoria Hospital Neonatal Unit

Health Minister Edwin Poots said: “It is with deep regret that I have learned today of the death of a third baby at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital.
~ Friday, 20 January 2012

"It is desperately sad when a baby dies and my thoughts and sympathies are with the families of all three babies.

“I would ask everyone to respect the privacy of these families at this very sad time.

“It is important that we remain calm. Infection control teams are now in the process of trying to identify the source of the infection and minimise the risk of spread to other babies in the unit.

“Babies in neonatal units are already vulnerable due to clinical conditions and varying degrees of prematurity. This makes them less able to withstand infections including those that would not cause problems in healthy babies.

"I have asked the trust to work with the Public Health Agency to ensure all necessary steps are swiftly taken to identify the source of the infection so that we contain it and reduce further risk of spreading.

"I have asked the Belfast Trust and the Public Health Agency to keep me fully informed."

Notes to editors:

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