Confidence in NHS has been shaken

PUBLIC confidence in the NHS has been “shaken” by the recent outbreak of hospital infections, the Health Secretary has conceded.

But Jeane Freeman insisted “significant progress” had been made in Scotland following the Clostridium Difficile outbreak which contributed to the death of 34 patients at the Vale of Leven Hospital more than a decade ago.

In January two premature infants died after contracting staphylococcus aureus at the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital month.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde later confirmed the infection was an extremely rare strain, and it was the first time it has been identified in Scotland.

Those deaths came after the Crown Office announced it was looking into the death of a 73-year-old woman and a 10-year-old boy at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

Both patients died after catching the cryptococcus infection, which is linked in Glasgow last to pigeon droppings.

Addressing MSPs, Ms Freeman said: “NHS Scotland is now in a position to identify incidents and outbreaks much earlier and take immediate action.”

In the wake of the two deaths at the flagship £842million Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Ms Freeman instructed hygiene inspectors from the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate to carry out an unannounced visit – the results of which will published on March 8.