Seventh patient in C.diff scare

The affected patients have been kept in isolation at the hospital

A seventh patient has tested positive for Clostridium difficile after a hospital ward in Fife was closed.

The outbreak was discovered after patients at ward six of Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, fell ill.

They tested positive for C.diff after developing diarrhoea on Friday and have all since been nursed in isolation.

Labour MSP Helen Eadie has called for an inquiry into infection control methods in hospitals after a fatal outbreak in West Dunbartonshire.

Nine people died as a result of C.diff, which was a contributory factory in the deaths of a further nine. A total of 55 others were affected by the outbreak at the Vale of Leven hospital.

In the latest outbreak, NHS Fife said relatives of the ill patients had been urged not to visit to help control the spread.

Ms Eadie, the Dunfermline East MSP, said she was "very concerned" at the latest outbreak.

She added: "Families have an absolute right to know that when their loved ones go into hospital they will be cared for in clean and safe conditions.

"This new outbreak in Dunfermline underlines the need for a full public inquiry on C difficile so that lessons can be learned from the recent tragedy at the Vale of Leven."