A FORMER Scottish health secretary has called for an inquiry into the deaths of two patients after they contracted a fungal infection linked to pigeon droppings at a hospital.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGCC) has launched its own probe into the deaths at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
Alex Neil MSP called for an independent inquiry as it emerged the infections, caused by inhaling a fungus primarily found in soil and pigeon droppings, were discovered in December.
The health board installed portable HEPA filter units on January 10 in an attempt to deal with the issue.
Neil told BBC Scotland: “I think there has to be an outside inquiry by experts to find why this happened in the first place, secondly how it has been handled by the health board and, thirdly, what precautions need to be taken for the future.
“There are confusing messages coming out of the health board so they need to clarify the situation and do so as a matter of urgency.”
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