Public health experts made the move at the Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus.

The salmonella outbreak is now thought to have run its course, but the "small round virus", though milder, is more easily spread and an outbreak control team, which has been managing and monitoring the situation, advised the management that the quickest way to overcome it was to close the Victoria to all referred admissions except those deemed essential by medical staff.

Mr [Cameron Fyfe] said he would be writing to the procurator-fiscal in Glasgow asking for a fatal accident inquiry to be arranged. He said: "This matter is of great concern, not just to the family but to the public at large and merits an inquiry." He added that any issue of compensation for the family would hinge on whether an inquiry was held and its outcome.