Warning against Cdifficile inquiry
Published:
AN IMMEDIATE public inquiry into the fatal clostridium difficile outbreak at a Scottish hospital could risk prejudicing future criminal proceedings, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday.
She conceded, however, that she was sympathetic to having an inquiry into the outbreak at the Vale of Leven Hospital at Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire.
The infection was linked to 18 deaths and, since then, victims’ relatives have been campaigning for a public inquiry.
They called for Ms Sturgeon’s resignation last week after she refused to order an immediate public inquiry.
Yesterday, she wrote to the victims’ families and opposition parties to update them on investigations into the outbreak being carried out by Strathclyde Police and the Health and Safety Executive.
The minister said both the police and the HSE were aiming to submit their reports to the fiscal by March next year.
Labour accused Ms Sturgeon of playing “political games”.
Jackie Baillie, whose Dumbarton constituency includes the Vale of Leven, said: “Nicola Sturgeon should be ashamed of the way that she is treating the victims of Cdifficile.
“She is playing political games with them and putting her own reputation ahead of their right to justice.”
