An immediate public inquiry into the incidence of Clostridium difficile (C.diff) in Scottish hospitals has been ruled out by the Scottish government.

However, Nicola Sturgeon, the Health Secretary, indicated yesterday that she may authorise one after the completion of the police investigation into an outbreak of C.diff at the Vale of Leven hospital in Dunbartonshire.

Ms Sturgeon, deputising at First Minister's Questions for Alex Salmond, who had a throat and chest infection, was pressed on the issue by Labour and the Conservatives.

Eighteen patients died at the Vale of Leven hospital, and there have been persistent reports that C.diff has not been recorded as a contributory factor in the deaths of other patients in Scotland because it was not cited as a cause on their death certificates.

A total of 55 people were affected in the outbreak at the Vale of Leven hospital between last December and June. C.diff was the primary cause in the deaths of nine and a contributory factor in those of nine others.

Iain Gray, the Scottish Labour leader, urged Ms Sturgeon to hold an immediate inquiry, arguing that in opposition she had called for inquiries “with monotonous regularity” but in government she had resisted such calls. “What is she afraid of? What is she trying to cover up?” Mr Gray said. “She is the only obstacle to the inquiry we need. In the interests of the families, will she change her mind now?”

Ms Sturgeon said that the ongoing police investigation into the events at the Vale of Leven meant that it was not appropriate to stage an immediate inquiry. “I readily recognise that C.diff is a growing concern, but it's not a new concern,” she said. “The death rates in Scotland have been rising steadily throughout this entire decade. It's an issue we are determined to tackle.”

She added that funding to tackle hospital infections had been tripled, cleaning standards had been toughened, and infection-cutting targets had been set.

Annabel Goldie, the Scottish Conservative leader, supported Mr Gray's call. She said: “We need to know what is happening, where it is happening, why it is happening and when it is happening.”

Ms Sturgeon said that Scotland had been playing “catch up” with England since she took office, because the previous Labour/Lib Dem Administration had introduced mandatory surveillance three years after England.

“I have not ruled out a public inquiry,” she added. When the scale of the outbreak at the hospital became clear she had ordered a rapid, independent investigation so “the significant failings” could be identified and action taken to address them.

About 40 recommendations had been made as a result of the investigation and each one was being implemented, Ms Sturgeon said.

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