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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Hospital bug caused 248 deaths | Hospital bug caused 248 deaths |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The hospital infection Clostridium difficile (C.diff) claimed the lives of 248 Scots last year, a rise of 12.7% | The hospital infection Clostridium difficile (C.diff) claimed the lives of 248 Scots last year, a rise of 12.7% |
| Figures released by the Registrar General also revealed the infection was a contributory factor in the deaths of a further 517 people. | Figures released by the Registrar General also revealed the infection was a contributory factor in the deaths of a further 517 people. |
| Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the death rate was at its highest early in the year, suggesting infection control measures were now working. | Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the death rate was at its highest early in the year, suggesting infection control measures were now working. |
| Another hospital infection MRSA claimed 48 lives, down 8% on 2007. | Another hospital infection MRSA claimed 48 lives, down 8% on 2007. |
| In the first quarter of 2008, there were 75 deaths directly attributed to C. diff, but the figure fell to 42 in the final quarter. | In the first quarter of 2008, there were 75 deaths directly attributed to C. diff, but the figure fell to 42 in the final quarter. |
| The start of the year saw an outbreak of the infection at the Vale of Leven hospital in Dunbartonshire. | The start of the year saw an outbreak of the infection at the Vale of Leven hospital in Dunbartonshire. |
| Ms Sturgeon said the decline in death rates throughout the year was "encouraging". | Ms Sturgeon said the decline in death rates throughout the year was "encouraging". |
| She said: "As expected, in many ways the death rates mirror the infection rates which peaked in the first half of 2008. | She said: "As expected, in many ways the death rates mirror the infection rates which peaked in the first half of 2008. |
| "Since then infection rates have fallen steadily and are now at their lowest level since monitoring began." | "Since then infection rates have fallen steadily and are now at their lowest level since monitoring began." |
| "These facts give us cautious grounds for optimism - but we can never be complacent." | "These facts give us cautious grounds for optimism - but we can never be complacent." |
| Inquiry call | Inquiry call |
| Labour public health spokesman Dr Richard Simpson said the public inquiry already announced into the Vale of Leven outbreak should now be widened to cover C. diff deaths across the whole of Scotland. | Labour public health spokesman Dr Richard Simpson said the public inquiry already announced into the Vale of Leven outbreak should now be widened to cover C. diff deaths across the whole of Scotland. |
| The call was echoed by Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie who said the way C.diff deaths were recorded should also be reviewed. | The call was echoed by Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie who said the way C.diff deaths were recorded should also be reviewed. |
| Conservative health spokesman Jackson Carlaw said an electronic bed management system combined with infection tracking software, soon to be piloted in Aberdeen, should be adopted to tackle the problem. | |
| The Registrar General Duncan Macniven also released migration figures, as he published his annual review of demographic trends. | The Registrar General Duncan Macniven also released migration figures, as he published his annual review of demographic trends. |
| Figures, first made public in April, show that Scotland's population has risen to a 28-year high of 5,168,000, largely driven by people moving to Scotland, particularly from England. | Figures, first made public in April, show that Scotland's population has risen to a 28-year high of 5,168,000, largely driven by people moving to Scotland, particularly from England. |
| But more recent figures suggest migration involving foreign nationals may be slowing down. | But more recent figures suggest migration involving foreign nationals may be slowing down. |
| In the first quarter of last year, 3,995 foreigners applied to work in Scotland compared to 4,555 in first three months of 2007. | In the first quarter of last year, 3,995 foreigners applied to work in Scotland compared to 4,555 in first three months of 2007. |
| This year the number is down to 1,735. | This year the number is down to 1,735. |