Cancer patients shocked by ward's foxy visitor

CANCER patients at the Western General were stunned to see a fox appear on their ward.

The animal had climbed at least two flights of stairs to get on to ward 3, where patients are treated for cancer, it was reported today.

It was eventually cornered by staff, and a clean-up operation was launched to prevent infection.

A hospital source said: "It was spotted at about 2am on Monday. The creature must have been looking for food.

"Some of the nightshift staff and patients got a real fright. The last thing patients expect to see is a fox wandering about. Questions are being asked about how it was able to get so far without being spotted."

NHS Lothian head of estates, George Curley, said: " At no point were patients at any risk."