Aintree Hospital Trust investigated over infection rate
A Merseyside hospital trust is being investigated by the health regulator for failing to meet its superbug and A&E waiting time targets.
The Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the first hospitals investigated under a new regime by the regulator, Monitor.
The trust is also reported to have missed referral-for-treatment targets.
A trust statement said it was disappointed and concerned at its performance.
Monitor said it took the decision about the Aintree trust after breaches of its C. difficile, MRSA, A&E four hour waiting time and referral-for-treatment targets raised concerns about governance at the trust.
The watchdog is investigating the trust under its new licence regulatory regime, which started in April.
Yvonne Mowlds, regional director at Monitor, said: "We are investigating at an early stage to find out why these problems have occurred.
"Monitor has not yet reached a view as to whether there has been any breach of the licence conditions."
Catherine Beardshaw, chief executive of the trust, said the board is "disappointed and extremely concerned" about its overall infection control performance.
"We have revised our action plans and have now seen a reduction in the number of C. difficile cases reported in the last two months," she said.
Ms Beardshaw said the trust will meet Monitor in the coming weeks.