Four patients in an elderly mental health unit have died from coronavirus and another 11 are believed to be infected after an outbreak on a ward.
But the Scottish Government’s rules say elderly patients should not be vaccinated against the virus until they are about to be discharged.
Now, the virus has spread through the Willow Ward of the Orchard View Hospital in Greenock.
A hospital insider said: “Fifteen patients have had the virus and four are already dead. We are expecting that to rise.”
A spokeswoman from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirmed the outbreak and said it was first identified in the facility, in the grounds of Inverclyde Royal Hospital, on February 3.
She said: “Since then, we have taken additional steps to protect patients.”
The infection has reignited the debate over patients not being vaccinated against the disease while in hospital.
This week, we told how the over-80s in hospital had been missed out.
Peter Innes, 73, whose mum Margaret, 93, has been in hospital for six weeks following a fall at her Kirkcaldy home, said: “The old ones are most at risk but there has been no attempt to get them vaccines in hospital.”
But after Margaret’s story appeared in the Record, she was given he jab on Wednesday.
Peter said: “If you hadn’t done that story, I’m sure she would never have been offered it. At my mum’s age, if she gets Covid, she would have no chance.”
A Scottish Government spokesman admitted OAP patients are not being vaccinated “so we do not confuse any side-effects with other symptoms”.
