THE ingression of pigeons to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital resulting in patients being infected by a potentially lethal disease ("Hospital chiefs knew for years about pigeon issue that proved fatal", The Herald, January 21) is not the first example of faulty construction and negligent inspection to emerge since this much-lauded facility became operational.

It is now incumbent on NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to institute a comprehensive survey of the structure in order to identify and remedy any as-yet-undiscovered defects and on the Scottish Government to ensure that this process proceeds without delay and that it is carried out by transparently independent experts.

Duncan Macintyre,

2 Fort Matilda Terrace, Greenock.