Commenting ahead of the statement on C. difficile, following another fatal outbreak at Ninewells Hospital, Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Ross Finnie MSP said:

“Our thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives in this latest fatal C. Difficile outbreak.

“After months of stalling, the Scottish Government finally announced a Public Inquiry into the fatal outbreak at Glasgow’s Vale of Leven. But Ministers shied away from ordering the inquiry to look at other cases, like the outbreaks in Orkney and Grampian.

“The five deaths in Ninewells make the case for a wider Public Inquiry absolutely concrete.

“I will be calling on the Health Secretary to show some leadership tomorrow by ordering the terms and remit for the Public Inquiry to be extended across the country.”