A PATIENT died at Basildon Hospital during an outbreak of superbugs that led to wards being closed.

News of a spike in MRSA, clostridium difficile and streptococcus A comes as the trust continues to experience huge pressures on A&E and declared emergency “black alert” status due to overcrowding.

However, the trust said dwindling finances were not to blame for a rise in superbugs.

Staff at the trust were rapped for not isolating patients with diarrhoea and vomiting quickly enough.

One patient died following an outbreak of streptococcus on Edith Cavell ward in November, latest board papers reveal.

In December, the same ward also suffered an outbreak of MRSA.

A trust spokesman said: “We experienced an increase in MRSA in December, which was largely confined to one ward which treats patients with complex conditions who are most susceptible to infection. This was addressed rapidly.

“We have seen a reduction in C-diff in recent months after an increase over the summer which was mirrored by an increase in the community. All cases have been reviewed externally and no lapses in care identified.”

A trust report on the outbreaks said staff in contact with patients required screening.

It added: “An outbreak of Group A Streptococcus was declared following hospital acquisition by three patients (one fatal).

“An outbreak control group had been convened. To date there had been no further cases.

“(There was) an outbreak of MRSA on Edith Cavell.

Following so closely on the previously reported outbreak of streptococcus, this is worrying.”

Edith Cavell had to close before Christmas for “deep cleaning” after three cases of MRSA in November and December, when there were three other cases elsewhere.

It added: “The causes of these outbreaks were not felt to be evidence of a systemic problem.

“A question was raised about the processes for cleaning bed frames, including the undersides of the bed and whether the introduction of such measures would help reduce infection.”

The trust has seen 30 cases of C-diff, when the maximum number should have been 18.

The report said: “Outbreaks of diarrhoea and vomiting have necessitated a limited number of ward closures in December.”

A review of this by Public Health England, highlighted a number of good practices.

However, it found: “One common theme noted was persistent delays in isolating patients with diarrhoea and therefore, the two-hour to isolation standard would be adopted as a key performance indicator.”

The spokesman said overall monitors had been “very clear in their statements that performance at our trust has improved significantly.”