Scottish Labour have called on Nicola Sturgeon to stop playing games with the victims of C. difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital. Despite her claims to the contrary, she is the only obstacle to an immediate public inquiry on C. difficile.

Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie said:

"Nicola Sturgeon should be ashamed of the way that she is treating the victims of C. difficile. She is playing political games with them and putting her own reputation ahead of their right to justice.

"I understand that the Strathclyde Police incident team investigating the deaths at the Vale of Leven Hospital only began this week after the families renewed their call for a public inquiry.

"Last weekend, Nicola Sturgeon's advisers were briefing the Sunday newspapers that there would be no criminal prosecution. Now, she says the families will have to wait even longer for a decision. This is simply unacceptable.

"There is nothing to stop her from ordering a public inquiry now, which could begin its preparatory work alongside the police investigation."

27 November 2008