SCOTS are avoiding treatment amid growing fears about catching hospital bugs, it was claimed today.
SCOTS are avoiding treatment amid growing fears about catching hospital bugs, it was claimed today.
Former Strathkelvin and Bearsden MSP and health campaigner Dr Jean Turner says some patients are so worried about superbugs they are bringing their own cleaning materials into wards.
Dr Turner's comments come just days after orthopaedic operations at the Southern General were cancelled when six patients were hit by wound infections.
It is the latest infection crisis to grip the city hospital and came just weeks after an outbreak of superbug MRSA there.
Dr Turner said: "Hospitals are simply losing the cleanliness battle and patients are getting more and more worried about getting these superbugs."
One patient Dr Turner knew had three times refused to go for a hip replacement at Glasgow Royal Infirmary amid fears of contracting a superbug.
Calling for "drastic action" Dr Turner said health board chief executives should be "forced to resign" if wards are not cleaned up.
A study by Health Protection Scotland showed almost one in ten patients picks up infections in Scots' hospitals - the highest rate in the UK.
