The public inquiry into two of Scotland's newest hospitals will start on August 3, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has announced.

Lord Brodie will chair the investigation into the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and Young People in Edinburgh.

The inquiry was ordered after three patients at the Glasgow hospital died from infections linked to pigeon droppings and the water supply, and the opening of the Edinburgh site was delayed due to concerns over the ventilation system.

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The Scottish Government stepped in to prevent the children's hospital opening just a day before it was due accept patients.

Earlier this month, a review into the QEUH was published which found cancer patients had been put at a higher risk of infection due to the way the building was designed and maintained.

However it found no sound evidence that any avoidable deaths had been caused by the design of the campus.

Ms Freeman said: "The safety and wellbeing of all patients and their families is my top priority and should be the primary consideration in all NHS construction projects.

"I want to make sure this is the case for all future projects, which is why, following calls from affected parents, I announced a public inquiry to examine the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and Department of Clinical Neurosciences and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital sites."

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Lord Brodie said: "The Covid-19 pandemic has inevitably had an impact on preparations for the inquiry and I look forward to being able to make progress in due course.

"An early action will be to invite those who have been impacted by the issues set out in the terms of reference to contact the inquiry."

According to the remit of the inquiry, which was published this month, its aim is to ascertain how the problems occurred, if they could have been prevented, their impact on patients and families and if the hospitals provide a safe environment.