Operating theatres at Aberdeen's Children’s Hospital have been closed after an infestation of maggots was discovered.
All but emergency operations at the hospital have been postponed while NHS Grampian's infection control team investigates.
The maggots were found by a member of staff when the theatres were not being used and were closed immediately. It is unknown when they will re-open.
Two of the three operating theatres have been affected, with the third being closed as a precaution.
As a result, four patients have had their procedures carried out at A&E while seven others have been postponed.
NHS Grampian have apologised for any inconvenience caused to families and their children as a result of the closure.
The revelation comes in the same week that Aberdeen topped a Scotland-wide table of patients infected with the hospital bug Clostridium difficile.
Nearly 5,000 cases of Clostridium difficile were recorded in the year since a deadly outbreak at the Vale of Leven hospital in May 2007.
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary topped the list with nearly 440 victims.
