By Steve Bargeton, political editor

THE SCOTTISH Government came under renewed pressure yesterday to hold a public inquiry into an outbreak of the Clostridium difficile infection.

A total of 55 people were affected at the Vale of Leven Hospital between December last year and June this year in what is claimed to be the worst outbreak in the UK.

C. diff was the primary cause of the death of nine patients and was a contributory factor in another nine deaths.

At First Minister’s Questions yesterday deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon, standing in for Alex Salmond who is off work with a chest and throat infection, was pressed by Labour leader Iain Gray to order a public inquiry.

“How many people need to tell her she is wrong before she calls a public inquiry?” he asked.

“This parliament voted in September for a public inquiry into the C. difficile outbreak to ensure all Scotland learns the lessons of the Vale of Leven.

“Last night the deputy first minister did not rule out a public inquiry. Will she confirm today that a public inquiry will be forthcoming, yes or no?”

Ms Sturgeon said she had not ruled out a public inquiry but explained that reports on the outbreak had been passed to Scotland’s top law officer, Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini.

“As a result of that decision a police investigation is currently under way into the events at the Vale of Leven,” she told MSPs.

“I think in the interests of due process to all concerned, that it is appropriate before I make any further pronouncement, to allow that investigation to continue.

“A public inquiry has not been ruled out and should not be ruled out on an issue of such seriousness.”

Mr Gray dismissed the explanation and accused Ms Sturgeon of hiding behind due process.

“Any lawyer will tell her there is nothing to stop her holding a public inquiry now,” he said.

“Her due process is based on a report with which she says she is satisfied but it is a report which has been condemned by the families, criticised by the experts and now disowned by the author.”

Mr Gray said the C. diff problem was “getting worse” and claimed that under Ms Sturgeon’s “watch” hospital cleaning and hospital maintenance budgets “are being cut in real terms in most hospitals.”

Ms Sturgeon refuted the claim that cleaning budgets were being cut and said that C. diff was not a “new concern.”

She said, “The death rates from C. difficile in Scotland have been rising steadily throughout this entire decade,” she said.

The deputy first minister assured Tory leader Annabel Goldie that the super bug “undermines confidence” in the health service which is why she was determined to tackle it as “my top priority.”