The cost of a long-delayed inquiry into a deadly outbreak of clostridium difficile at a Scottish hospital has more than doubled from initial estimates, to stand at almost £10 million, The Scotsman can reveal.
The Vale of Leven hospital inquiry was at first given a price tag of up to £4m – but is now projected to cost £9.9m, with the potential for the expense to rise even further.
The figures, released by the Scottish Government after a Freedom of Information request, were called “eye-watering” by opposition politicians, who criticised delays to the inquiry.