A PATIENT died at Basildon Hospital after developing clostridium difficile (c-diff) during a spike in cases of the superbug.

Hospital bosses are now investigating a worrying rise in the number of cases of the deadly bug.

Between April this year and March 2015 the hospital has a target to limit cases of c-diff to 18 – but has already had 23.

The concerns come just three months after the hospital was removed from special measures due to previously high death rates.

Councillor Sandra Hillier, who is on a hospital patient panel, said: “This is of course a concern.

“I know there are cautions about c-diff in particular, which can come in from the community, but then it counts towards the hospitals figures. They have stepped up measures to isolate patients as soon as it is identified and then put patients in a side room if one is available.”

According to the trust’s latest published performance report, 15 c-diff cases were investigated and classed as unavoidable, but failings were identified.

The hospital would not reveal the age or sex of the patient who died – or when it happened.

The report said: “There are 11 cases where it is believed that the management processes were not entirely compliant with best practice.

“The trust is working in partnership with the epidemiology unit to review all cases. In addition, steps are being taken to investigate each case to ascertain if there are links between cases.”

A trust spokeswoman highlighted increased pressures. She said: “We are seeing more patients than ever.

“Over the last two years annual admissions have significantly increased from 71,000 to 77,000, and A&E visits from 103,000 to 117,000. This has inevitably caused an increase in some occurrences and we are monitoring these to ensure we provide high quality, safe care. She added how c-diff rates had significantly dropped from five years ago when there were 103 cases.

She added: “We have had one case where a patient sadly died, due to clostridium difficile alongside a number of other serious conditions. A review into the death found no lapses in care. All cases are carefully scrutinised by clinical staff at the trust, working with the clinical commissioning group.

“The trust may face a financial penalty if there is found to be any lapse in care. Reviews to date carried out by Public Health England and the CCG have found no lapses in care. However, the trust continues to take its duty to actively reduce clostridium difficile cases very seriously and has a number of controls to reduce the risk to all patients.”