Traces of bacteria found in drains at Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children

Traces of bacteria have been found during testing in the drains of two wards in the Royal Hospital for Children.

Hospital bosses are now carrying out chemical cleaning of drains in ward 2A and 2B.

The drains are being treated in blocks of four rooms at a time and as the work involves chemicals and during this short period our young patients will be temporarily moved to another room until the work is completed.

A drain in the kitchen area serving these wards is also being treated and so will also be temporarily closed until tomorrow night. The same cleaning programme is being carried out in the bathrooms of these wards.

A spokesperson says there is no problem with the drinking water supply as it is filtered but due to the kitchen being closed they are supplying bottled water.

The rest of the Royal Hospital for Children is working as normal and the drain cleaning work in ward 2A and 2B will be completed by the weekend.

Clyde News has been told the traces of bacteria pose very low risk to anyone with a healthy immune system but can pose harm to patients whose immunity is compromised.

Dr Teresa Inkster, NHSGGC Consultant Microbiologist, said: “As the wards affected treat patients whose immune system is compromised we have taken these immediate steps to apply a chemical disinfection to the drains and to inform the families of the situation.

“We have also taken the extra precaution of prescribing antibiotics to a few patients who are at risk of infection and we are sorry for the disruption this has caused to our young patients and their families in wards 2A and 2B at this time.”

Patients and their parents/carers have been fully informed of the situation.

NHS infection control experts believe the bacteria to be linked to an earlier issue with taps, which have since been fitted with filters. The water supply is unaffected.