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Vale of Leven inquiry chair appointed
21/08/2009
A new chairman has been appointed to head the public inquiry into Clostridium difficile deaths at the Vale of Leven hospital.
Lord MacLean will lead the investigation into the 2008 outbreak in which 55 people developed C.diff and 18 people died.
Lord MacLean's appointment follows the withdrawal - for health reasons - of Lord Coulsfield, who had agreed to chair the inquiry.
The terms of reference of the inquiry will now be set once the chairman has been consulted, in line with the requirements of the Inquiries Act 2005.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said today she was committed to ensuring the public inquiry got underway as quickly as possible.
Ms Sturgeon said:
"I am delighted that Lord MacLean has agreed to chair the inquiry and am in no doubt that his wealth of experience will ensure the inquiry is conducted methodically and meticulously.
"What happened at the Vale of Leven must be fully investigated - it's vital that all possible lessons are learned to prevent it happening again.
"That's what the public inquiry will do and I want it to begin its work as soon as possible. We have already made good progress including establishing an inquiry secretariat."
Lord MacLean was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1964 and took silk in 1977.
He was appointed a Senator of the College of Justice in 1990. In April 2001 he was appointed to the Inner House of the Court of Session and was also sworn in as a member of the Privy Council.
His previous public appointments include Chairman of the Billy Wright Inquiry in 2005, Chairman of the Sentencing Commission 2003-2005, Chairman of the Committee on Serious, Violent and Sexual Offenders 1999-2000 and a member of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland 2002-2005.
Lord MacLean was also one of the judges at the Lockerbie Trial at Camp Zeist.
Ms Sturgeon announced on April 22, 2009 that a public inquiry would be held.
Following the outbreak, Ms Sturgeon commissioned an independent review of procedures at the hospital up report, published in February, found that 'rapid and very significant progress' had been made in implementing these improvements.
The public inquiry, set up under the 2005 Inquiries Act, will be independent of Scottish Ministers. It will have the power to require witnesses to give evidence, both orally and in writing, and to require the production of documents.
The Scottish Government is investing £54 million (over three years) in a range of measures to tackle hospital infections. These include: a national MRSA screening programme, prudent prescribing of antibiotics, and a Healthcare Environment Inspectorate to carry out unannounced inspections of hospitals.