Opposition MSPs demand government release all information on Glasgow hospital deaths

Opposition parties are demanding answers over the opening of Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, amid an inquiry into safety concerns.

It comes after the local health board admitted in its closing submission to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry that the super hospital was opened too soon.

“Pressure was applied to open the hospital on time and on budget, and it is now clear that the hospital opened too early. It was not ready,” it said.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde also admitted that it was “more likely than not” that some patients suffered fungal infections as a result of the hospital environment, “in particular the water system”.

Scottish Labour has written to First Minister John Swinney and health secretary Neil Gray calling for all ministerial communications, cabinet minutes and discussions relating to the QEUH to be released.

Leader Anas Sarwar and deputy Jackie Baillie say they believe ministers’ conduct during the process “could have breached a criminal threshold” and therefore transparency is vital.

They added: “The failure lies with senior leadership and a culture of secrecy and poor governance — enabled by ministers who repeatedly denied the scale of the problem and dismissed legitimate concerns.

“A culture that started right from the water report warning of problems with the supply at the hospital. 

“The public inquiry is vital and must run its course. But it cannot be used as a shield for secrecy or inaction. Families cannot be left waiting year after year while the system protects itself.”

The hospital was opened in April 2015, when Nicola Sturgeon was first minister, Shona Robison was health secretary and John Swinney finance secretary.

The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry was announced in September 2019 by then health secretary Jeane Freeman, following concerns about patient deaths and infections.

Milly Main died at the QEUH at the age of 10 in 2017 after contracting the stenotrophomonas bacteria while receiving treatment for leukaemia.

A corporate homicide investigation into the deaths of Milly, two other children, and Gail Armstrong, a 73-year-old cancer patient, was launched in 2021.

The Scottish Conservatives are urging Sturgeon to make a statement to parliament about the health board feeling under pressure to open.

Health spokesperson Sandesh Gulhane said: “Nicola Sturgeon must come clean on whether she pressured officials to open the scandal-hit Queen Elizabeth University Hospital before it was ready.

“This flagship hospital was opened just weeks before the 2015 general election, despite concerns over its water supply. A number of patients, including 10-year-old Milly Main, subsequently lost their lives.

“If Nicola Sturgeon leaned on NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde bosses to push this hospital over the line for political gain, that would be utterly unforgivable.”

Responding to questions in parliament on the matter on Tuesday, Gray said the inquiry was established to “investigate in detail all matters relating to those cases of infection”.

He declined to comment in detail, saying it would be “inappropriate” while the inquiry was still running. He added: “It’s important we allow the public inquiry the space to consider its final conclusions, for the final report to be considered, before we determine any final considerations.”