Inquiry call into hospital deaths

Labour wants an independent inquiry into the hospital outbreak

Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander has called for an independent inquiry into eight hospital superbug deaths.

Health officials identified 54 cases of Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, at Dunbartonshire's Vale of Leven Hospital between December and June.

Eight patients died as a direct result. The infection was a contributory factor in a further eight deaths.

First Minister Alex Salmond said the health secretary would decide if an inquiry was necessary.

Speaking during First Minister's Questions at Holyrood, Ms Alexander said lessons needed to be learned.

"Lesser outbreaks at Stoke Manderville and Maidstone (both in England) have both led to external inquiries." she said.

'Inquiry delay'

"Given that this maybe, in terms of the mortality rate the most severe outbreak ever in Scotland, an inquiry is valuable and it should be seen to be independent of government."

Ms Alexander also asked why there had been a "delay until May" in ordering an investigation when it was clear that cases of C. diff were "above expected numbers in January and February".

But Mr Salmond rejected any notion that the situation had been treated lightly.

He said: "The health secretary was informed throughout of the measures that were taken by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Wendy Alexander questioned the time taken to identify and tackle the C. diff outbreak

"The whole range of circumstances came to light because of the investigation of the three cases of C. difficile as the health board looked back through its records to see the full extent of the infection."

Mr Salmond said that the immediate priority had been to take measures to control the C. diff outbreak and that had been done.

He also said that the Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon was open to any further inquiry.

The extent of the C. diff infection at Vale of Leven was revealed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) on Wednesday.

The health board established an outbreak control team which agreed to review the use of antibiotics known to reduce natural defences against C. diff.

The Vale of Leven was also given improved hand washing facilities, with greater emphasis placed on hygiene protocols.

Officials from the hospital and GGC met on Thursday to discuss the ongoing measures.

Three patients at the Vale of Leven are currently being treated in isolation for the infection.