Following the publication of a review into the outbreak of C.difficile at Vale of Leven Hospital, Scottish Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary Ross Finnie has backed calls from the families of the victims of the outbreak for an full independent public enquiry.

Following publication of the report Mr Finnie said:

“Today’s report into the C.difficile outbreak at Vale of Leven Hospital is damning in its conclusions. It is clear from the report that the way NHS Argyll and Clyde, and then NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde ran the hospital down in preparation for eventual closure resulted in it failing to meet the standards of hygiene and infection control which patients could expect.

“Despite the Health Secretary agreeing to accept the recommendations of the Review Group there is still a pressing need for an independent public enquiry into what happened at the Vale of Leven Hospital given the severe criticism of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde contained within the report.

“There are other hospitals ran by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, such as the Inverclyde Royal Hospital, which have been treated in the same way as the Vale of Leven. How can the patients in these hospitals have confidence that they are not being left at risk from Hospital Acquired Infections?

It is likely that, in terms of mortality, this is the worst ever reported outbreak of C.difficile in the U.K. and only a full independent public enquiry will give patients confidence that there will not be a repeat incident at some time in the future.

“The families of those who died in this outbreak want an independent public enquiry and it is clear that only an independent public enquiry can give patients across Scotland the reassurance they need. The Health Secretary should do the right thing and establish a public enquiry immediately.”