THERE have been calls for an independent inquiry into crisis-hit hospitals in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Speaking after it emerged children with cancer have had to be moved from Glasgow to Aberdeen for treatment, Labour's health spokesperson Monica Lennon called the situation "a disgrace."

She said: "How long is this going to be allowed to continue?

“Scotland’s sickest children are being let down time and time again.

“Parents say they have lost confidence in our hospitals and the health boards. It’s a disgrace."

Ms Lennon said forcing the families of children with cancer to travel long distances to access care added 'unnecessary strain to an already difficult situation."

READ MORE: Calls for public inquiry after scandals at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

She added: "Sick children should be able to find treatment close to their family and friends.

“Nicola Sturgeon must put patient safety before the SNP and finally agree to an independent public inquiry into the crisis-hit QEUH and Edinburgh Sick Kids.”

The Daily Record reported that patients at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow had been moved to an adult ward in the adjacent £842m Queen Elizabeth University Hospital because of infection risks in their usual ward.

However that ward has now also closed because of infection concerns, and children have had to travel to NHS Grampian for treatment.

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde health board said a “number of unusual infections” meant admissions were being diverted pending tests in ward 6A.

A spokeswoman said: “Based on clinical need, a small number of patients have either been diverted to NHS Lothian and NHS Grampian or are being treated elsewhere within Glasgow.”

On Sunday, the Herald revealed new details of the ventilation problems in Glasgow, where the systems do not change the air fast enough for low-immunity patients.

A leaked report revealed ceilings would need to be torn down and fixtures taken out of the children's cancer ward and the ventilation system replaced entirely.

Assessors estimated it would cost £2.8m and take at least a year to fix the one ward.

READ MORE: Emails show concerns from Glasgow NHS staff four years before QEUH inquiry launched

LibDem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton added: “We are now facing a situation in which there is serious disruption to children’s medical treatment in both Edinburgh and Glasgow. “Treating children so far from home is detrimental in many ways for patients and their families.

“The Health Secretary must ensure that these children and their families are appropriately supported to deal with these long journeys and disruption is kept to a minimum.”