§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the outbreak of a virus at Mill Road Maternity Hospital in Cambridge, which has caused the death of three babies; and what effect this will have on the perinatal mortality rate for the area.
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§ Mr. MoyleOn 1st December at the Mill Road Maternity Hospital a four-day-old baby died in the special care baby unit at the hospital. It was subsequently ascertained that the cause of death was identified as echovirus infection Type 11, and that the mother of the dead baby was herself infected with the virus before admission. Unfortunately the infection established itself in the special care baby unit, and as a result two more highly vulnerable premature babies died. Screening and precautionary measures were instituted in the special care baby unit.
Because of continuing concern for the remaining babies, some of whom were showing symptoms of the infection, the Cambridgeshire Area Health Authority decided that the entire hospital should be closed to new admissions from 10th December. Alternative arrangements were made for new patients to be admitted to other hospitals. The Cambridgeshire Area Health Authority is, however, optimistic that the situation has now been contained.
Two of the three dead babies were less than one week old; their deaths will act to increment the perinatal mortality rate for the Cambridgeshire Health Area by 0.3 per 1,000 live and still births.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the facilities and expertise available at the Mill Road Maternity Hospital in Cambridge; and if its special care baby unit satisfies the requirements of the OPPE report.