It said the hospital has a strict cleaning policy and domestic cleaning hours have not changed for two years and that isolation rooms are cleaned with chlorine after an infectious patient leaves, leaving no need to delay the next admission.
The first minister said the delay was caused by extensive consultation with patient groups to ensure the forms and procedures properly reflected the needs of the people involved.
At Glenfield Hospital, in Leicester, staff were able to remove a three-week delay in breast cancer waiting times by re-designing their patient registration forms.