An inquiry has been launched after a patient fell 30ft to her death from a window at Queen Margaret Hospital on Thursday.
Despite the efforts of a resuscitation team, 61-year-old Cardenden resident Josephine Mowat died around two hours later.
Mrs Mowat’s husband, Alf, and her family did not wish to speak about their loss.
It is believed Mrs Mowat had been admitted to Ward 19, a general surgical ward, last Friday for a routine operation. She is thought to have been in a single-bed room on the upper level ward recuperating after the operation when the tragedy unfolded at around 1am.
A spokesman for Fife Police confirmed officers were called to the hospital and said a report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal.
John Wilson, chief executive to NHS Fife’s operational division, confirmed an incident had taken place at the hospital, but said that as it was subject to a police inquiry it would be inappropriate to comment further.
He told The Courier: ”All opening windows in the hospital have security latches to limit the extent to which they may be opened. There is a detailed maintenance programme in place to ensure they continue to operate correctly.
”We are not able to comment on the specific circumstances of this incident at this time.”
The devastating news at the hospital which is still grieving the death of charge nurse Tracy Forbes who lost her life in a head-on collision near Glenrothes earlier this week shocked the wider Fife community.
Dunfermline and West Fife MP Thomas Docherty said: ”First of all my thoughts are with the patient’s family one can only imagine what they are going through.
”Clearly they will need time to come to terms with their loss, and I hope they will be provided with a thorough and clear explanation of what has happened in the lead-up to this tragedy.
”The family must be given all the information they can and we must know if there are any lessons which can be learned from this. The family must be the priority.”
Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker described the incident as “a terrible tragedy”, adding: “It has got to be an immediate investigation so this sort of thing can be prevented. It is shocking, a tragic story.”
Margaret Watt, chairwoman of the Scotland Patients Association, added: ”It is very sad and our condolences go to the family of the person involved.”
Fife Police are appealing to anyone with any information on the incident to contact them on 0845 600 5702.