THE public inquiry into a deadly infection outbreak at a Scottish hospital is on hold after the chairman fell ill – almost three years after the probe began.
A hearing at which legal representatives were expected to answer questions about the outbreak of clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital in West Dunbartonshire and sum up was cancelled last month.
Inquiry chairman Lord MacLean, a retired Lockerbie trial judge, was unwell after surgery.
Families say they were given no explanation as to why the hearing was delayed and have not been contacted by the inquiry team.
The deadline for the inquiry to report has already been extended to May next year, five years after the outbreak.
Between December 2007 and June 2008, 55 patients developed C.diff at the Vale of Leven.
Nine died from the bug and it was a confirmed factor in another nine deaths.
Michelle Stewart, of the C.difficile Justice Group, whose mother-in-law Sarah McGinty died, said: "The inquiry went above and beyond what we expected them to do and we appreciate that, but we want closure."
Patrick Maguire, who is representing the families, said: "All the timetables have not only had to slip or be allowed to slip, they are on hold at the moment."
Jackie Baillie, Labour health spokeswoman, said: "Three years on, the inquiry just keeps being delayed and no answers are forthcoming."
A spokeswoman for the Vale of Leven Hospital C.Diff Public Inquiry said: "Core participant legal representatives were informed on August 6 that the closing hearing would not take place on September 21 due to the chairman being unwell.
"Lord MacLean has been unwell following operative treatment. He is now recovering well and is making good progress." She said the inquiry's work was continuing and an update on the closing hearing would follow.
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