KEY POINTS:
The National party has called for an independent investigation into the recent Dunedin Hospital norovirus outbreak that affected more than 170 staff and patients.
The outbreak of the diarrhoea and vomiting bug, which began three weeks ago, meant more than 2300 procedures, outpatient visits and planned admissions were postponed as staff fought to control the spread of the virus.
Yesterday, the Otago District Health Board (ODHB) reported that services were returning to normal and that the virus was under control, with only 12 infected patients left in isolation.
National Party health spokesman Tony Ryall said that with the hospital operations returning to normal it was time for an independent investigation.
"This has been the most significant outbreak in recent memory and the public deserves to know what may have contributed to it, and what can be done to better deal with future outbreaks," he said.
"We also need to know if the hospital should have been put into lockdown earlier than was actually done."
ODHB operations manager Megan Boivin said staff would this week analyse their response to the outbreak to see what worked well and what could be improved.
Mr Ryall said it was important that those responses were checked independently as well.
"The public need to know that when these things happen in our public hospitals, the authorities learn what the can to limit the disruption to patient health and safety."
- NZPA
