DEMANDS are growing for publication of a delayed investigation report into why Inverclyde became the 'coronavirus capital of Scotland'.

The issue of the district's extraordinarily high COVID-19 death rate - twice the Scottish average - was raised with health secretary Jeane Freeman more than a month ago.

It had been anticipated that the findings of the study would be available for the latest meeting of Inverclyde Council's policy and resources executive sub-committee on June 2.

But there is still no sign of the report.

Now MSP Neil Bibby is calling for the document to be published without any further protraction.

Mr Bibby — who represents the West of Scotland region in the Scottish Parliament — said: "If we are to fully understand how this virus is affecting Inverclyde then we have to understand why the area is so much harder hit than Scotland as a whole.

"The health secretary agreed with me over a month ago that regional differences in the impact of the virus had to be investigated and she promised that Public Health Scotland would undertake that analysis.

"To date, no analysis has been published."

Other agencies involved in the investigation include the council, Inverclyde Health & Social Care Partnership, National Records of Scotland and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.

The Telegraph understands that Inverclyde's councillors have also not yet had sight of the much anticipated report.

The study is seen as vital in getting to the root of how the district has the highest COVID-19 death rate in country, with 112 fatalities in a population of 78,000.

Earlier in the crisis, official statistics showed that people here were dying from the disease at a rate nearly three times the national average.

Links have already been made between coronavirus deaths and poverty, poor health and elderly people being most at risk.

But it is thought that other factors have affected the situation.

Labour MSP Mr Bibby said: "We have to understand the regional inequalities driving the spread of this virus and we have to support the parts of Scotland hardest hit with extra resources.

"Our country was not prepared for coronavirus and the impact on Inverclyde has been tragic and distressing.

"The challenge ahead for Inverclyde and for Scotland as a whole is not just to rebuild and recover but to ensure that we are fully prepared for a second wave of this awful virus.

"I am calling again for the health secretary and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde to publish the analysis that was promised to fully inform the work of the government and help authorities on the ground protect Inverclyde."