The admission came during final evidence given to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry which is investigating whether ventilation and water contamination impacted the safety of patients at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Campus (QEUH) in Glasgow.

In its closing statement, NHSGGC said it accepts ‘on the balance of probabilities, there is a causal connection between some infections suffered by patients and the hospital environment, in particular the water system'.

QEUH opened in 2015 but NHSGGC has since said it opened too early and faced design flaws.

A number of patient deaths and infections at the hospital have led to concerns about the hospital's water and ventilation systems.

First Minister John Swinney has denied allegations there was any political pressure from Nicola Sturgeon or the SNP Government to open the hospital on time.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has called for senior hospital officials and politicians to be investigated, including Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney.