IPSWICH Hospital has reopened one of its wards following an outbreak of a superbug, it emerged today.

Rebecca Lefort

IPSWICH Hospital has reopened one of its wards following an outbreak of a superbug, it emerged today.

Seven elderly patients in Grundisburgh Ward have developed the highly contagious infection, Clostridium difficile (C-diff), forcing the hospital to close the ward to new admissions in the middle of June.

The ward is now reopen, but operating with 20 beds instead of the usual 28 beds, and an investigation is under way because of clinical concerns about the outbreak.

The reopening of the ward came as the hospital's £26million Garrett Anderson Centre scooped a national award for its focus on infection control.

The four-storey building, which was designed with cleaning, infection control and patient safety in mind, was voted best in the country in the health category at the Building Cleanability Awards.

Steve Harrup, director of estates and facilities at the hospital, said: “This is a clear demonstration of the hospital's commitment to good design. Ensuring the ability to clean the building well will boost our attempts to become an infection free hospital.”

He added that the Garrett Anderson Centre's anti-infection design includes automatic doors, sensored taps, easy to clean windows and flooring, large kitchens and cleaning cupboards and spacious patient areas.

It was nominated for the award by OCS which provides cleaning services for the hospital.

Does Ipswich Hospital need to do more to tackle infection control? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk