The health secretary details the process for dealing with infection threats and control, pointing to the various bodies involved.

We have led the world with the national infection prevention approach, she says.

"Scotland has made significant progress in the last decade," Ms Freeman adds.

She insists NHS Scotland is now in a position to identify outbreaks much earlier and take action.

I am committed to ensuring our hospitals remain some of the safest healthcare facilities in the world she concludes.

Image source, PA

Prosecutors are now investigating the deaths of two patients after they contracted an infection connected to pigeon droppings at a Glasgow hospital.

The Crown Office confirmed it was looking into the death of a 73-year-old woman at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital earlier this month.

Prosecutors are already probing the death in December of a 10-year-old boy.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman had confirmed the infection was a contributory factor in the boy's death.

The second death at the £842m hospital, which opened in 2015, was initially said not to be connected to the infection.

But the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service confirmed it was now examining both deaths.

• The troubled past of Glasgow's QEUH

Image source, bbc

Ms Freeman says no matter whether the infection is rare or not, it must be identified early and dealt with and prevented from spreading.

The health secretary says her officials have daily phone calls with Health Protection Scotland, external.

The minister says the Healthcare Improvement Scotland, external inspection report of the QEUH will be published by 8 March.

All NHS staff have an important role to play in maintaining patient safety she says.

Image source, Getty Images

An investigation into the water supply at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow found "widespread contamination", it has been confirmed.

The probe was launched after an infection outbreak in two cancer wards at the neighbouring Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) last year.

A report by Health Protection Scotland says contamination was found in taps and drains at both hospitals.

It said work to fix the problem was ongoing.

A total of 23 children contracted bloodstream infections in the cancer wards between January and September last year.

• Hospital water bacteria probe extended
• Cancer patients moved over water scare
• Read more here

Ms Freeman says Health Protection Scotland's report into water contamination in two Glasgow hospitals has been published.

This will be passed to the independent review group considering the maintenance of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, she confirms.

The health secretary says officials are in the process of appointing two co-chairs to this review.

The right clinical experts must be chosen to lead this critical work, she adds.

NHS Scotland's psychical infrastructure must be designed and built to minimise infection she adds.

Image source, bbc

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says the recent loss of life through healthcare associated infections is a stark reminder of how important infection prevention measures are.

Ms Freeman expresses her condolences to the families affected.

The step change in infection prevention came after the C Difficile outbreak at the Vale of Leven in 2007/8, she outlines.

The minister cites the Scottish Patient Safety Programme which has delivered results with a reduction in C Difficile case.

Image source, bbc

A Holyrood committee is to examine hospital safety following the deaths of two patients from an infection linked to pigeon droppings.

The health committee inquiry comes in the wake of the deaths at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

The patients died after contracting a fungal infection linked to the droppings.

They included a 10-year-old boy who died in December after contracting the Crypotococcus infection.

A 73-year-old woman, who had been infected with the bug, died at the same hospital in January, with officials initially saying it was from an unrelated condition.

• Prosecutors probe pigeon infection death
• Two dead after pigeon dropping infection at hospital
• Do hospitals make you sick?
• Read more here

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman will now deliver a statement on patient safety within the NHS in Scotland.

Tory MSP Liam Kerr asks what the cumulative delays to FAIs are and what conclusions can be drawn on COPFS staffing.

Ms Denham says the average length of time to complete an inquiry has been gradually decreasing.

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur calls for an independent review of FAIs, citing the M9 tragedy.

The minister agrees a review is required.

Image source, bbc

Mr Johnson says he was shocked that the Clutha families will have to pay up to £8,000 for legal representation.

Community Safety Minister Ash Denham explains ministers cannot intervene to change the decision made by the Scottish Legal Aid Board.

The figure of £8,000 is inaccurate as it is the cumulative figure for all the families she says.

Mr Johnson points out the total cumulative backlog of FAIs is shocking.

The minister points out the lord advocate operates entirely independently from government.

The Crown Office has received more funding to try and address this, she says.

Community Safety Minister Ash Denham says the purpose of an FAI is to investigate the circumstances of a death in the public interest.

Where family members seek their own representation to participate as a party to an FAI, applications for legal aid are subject to tests of probably cause, reasonableness and financial need she explains.

Ms Denham highlights the independent strategic review of legal aid found there is a need to review current legislation for families involved in FAI.

A new legal aid bill is forthcoming and will consider this issue, with a consultation to be published before recess.

Image source, Reuters

The father of one of the victims of the Clutha helicopter crash says families have been "punished again" after being asked to contribute to the costs of a fatal accident inquiry.

Ian O'Prey's son Mark was among the 10 people who died when the helicopter came down on the Glasgow pub in November 2013.

Some legal aid has been granted to relatives of three victims.

But they will also have to contribute a combined total of more than £8,000.

Read more here.

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson asks about the Scottish government's position on providing legal aid to victims' families for fatal accident inquiries.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Miles Briggs says it should concern everyone in the chamber that the level of avoidable child deaths is higher in Scotland than the rest of the UK.

The health secretary details work that is being done with mums to help tackle some of the issues that can sometimes feel too much for individuals.

Being able to use the healthcare support through midwives and the health visitor is really important, Ms Freeman elucidates.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Mary Fee insists that the link between high levels of avoidable child deaths and deprevation remains.

Ms Fee asks how these health inequalities are being tackled.

Ms Freeman points to the baby box and the new start grant which will get practical support into the hand so mums.

The health secretary stresses the support must not be judgmental.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman points to a national hub for the prevention of child deaths to be launched in March.

A pilot of the child death review process is currently underway in three health boards and will be rolled out to the rest of Scotland in 2020, she says.

While Scotland does have the highest rate of avoidable child deaths in the UK, that overall number has dropped by 32% Ms Freeman adds.

Image source, Getty Images

From the Herald..., external

Avoidable deaths among children and teenagers are now higher in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK.

Scotland has overtaken Northern Ireland and recorded nearly twice the rate of avoidable deaths among infants, children and young people aged 19 and under compared to England and Wales.

These can include children who were murdered or killed as a result of intentional injuries, such as being beaten by a parent, as well as accidental causes such as being knocked down on the road.

Infections, respiratory diseases such as asthma or pneumonia, and birth defects linked to exposure to cigarette toxins, alcohol or other harmful substances in the womb are also among the leading causes.

The latest figures, covering 2017, were published by the Office for National Statistics.

SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson asks about progress on implementing a child death review process, in light of recent ONS figures showing that 218 avoidable child deaths occurred in Scotland in 2017.

Image source, bbc

The Right Reverend Susan Brown, Moderator, General Assembly of the Church of Scotland delivers today's time for reflection.