SNP MSP Bob Doris says Labour must apologise to NHS workers after the party's health spokesperson Jackie Baillie used out-dated infection figures from when Labour were in power to try and attack the SNP.

Labour published a release yesterday using figures from a survey gathered in 2005/06 claiming that Scotland has topped a European league table of healthcare associated infections (HAIs).

Mr Doris says this is disrespectful to the health workers who have been working hard to deliver a 70 per cent drop in both C.diff and MRSA since the survey was published in 2007.

The MSP for Glasgow and deputy convener of the Scottish Parliament's Health Committee said: "This blunder by Jackie Baillie in using these outdated figures only goes to highlight Labour's miserable legacy in this field.

"And it is completely disrespectful to our health professionals in Scotland who have worked hard to reduce cases of C.diff and MRSA by 70%.

"Instead of issuing negative and misleading comments, Jackie Baillie and the rest of the Labour Party should be praising the progress made by Scotland's NHS workforce in the battle against healthcare associated infections.

"While the Labour Party fear-monger, the SNP Government knows there is no room for complacency and has invested more than £50 million funding over the past three years to tackle healthcare associated infections."