Nhs Took Two Days To Raise Alarm About Kent Meningitis Outbreak, Says Report

East Kent hospitals NHS spot missed an earlier opportunity to alert nan UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) of nan meningitis outbreak successful Kent, it has been reported.

According to nan BBC, nan Queen Elizabeth nan Queen Mother infirmary successful Margate first reported a lawsuit to nan UKHSA connected nan day of Friday 13 March.

The diligent had arrived successful infirmary 2 days earlier connected Wednesday evening, but nan spot waited until location was a general test via a confirmed trial earlier raising nan alarm.

Dr Des Holden, acting main executive of East Kent hospitals NHS trust, told nan BBC officials could person acted sooner.

“We recognise location was an opportunity anterior to test to notify UKHSA,” he said.

“We cannot spell into nan item of individual patients’ care, but nan spot has been successful adjacent interaction pinch UKHSA since Friday 13 March to talk nan guidance of patients presenting pinch suspected meningitis.”

The UKHSA told nan BBC an earlier study could person meant nan agency began its investigation sooner, arsenic good arsenic supply antibiotics to adjacent contacts of nan diligent to forestall anyone processing invasive meningitis.

Two students person died successful nan outbreak – Juliette Kenny, 18, who was described by her family arsenic “fit, patient and strong” earlier her death, and a University of Kent student.

According to nan UKHSA, nan highest of nan outbreak – pinch nan largest number of cases reported – was connected 13 March.

As of 12.30pm connected Monday, 20 cases of meningitis had been confirmed, pinch a further 3 nether investigation, bringing nan full to 23.

This was down from 29 connected Sunday, erstwhile 20 cases were confirmed and a further 9 were nether investigation.

Officials started vaccinating University of Kent students connected Wednesday 18 March.

NHS Kent and Medway said that by 11am connected 24 March, 13,386 doses of antibiotics were fixed out, on pinch 10,627 vaccines.

All patients successful nan Kent outbreak person required infirmary admission. Nine were admitted to nan intensive attraction unit, wherever 4 remain.

The UKHSA has been contacted for comment.