Face a parly quiz on hospital,Jeane
Former NHS boss accuses Health Secretary of lying
HEALTH Secretary Jeane Freeman is under pressure to answer accusations over her handling of a delayed sick kids’ hospital.
Former NHS Lothian boss Brian Houston said she lied during the process and threatened to sack him if he didn’t resign.
The Scottish Government reject the claims, which were published in an interview yesterday.
The new hospital in Edinburgh was supposed to open last year but was halted when problems were found with ventilation.
Millions of pounds have since been spent on bills to keep the empty hospital ticking over while the crisis is resolved.
Houston quit in January, claiming “fundamental” differences with Freeman.
Yesterday, he said a team from the health board acted quickly after the ventilation problem emerged and options were put to the Government without recommendation.
Houston said: “We sat for the best part of a day biting our nails. Then we got the announcement from on high which basically said, ‘I have decided and I am overruling NHS Lothian’ that this move will not take place until we have 100 per cent assured ourselves the building is entirely safe in every possible dimension.
“Nobody was arguing with the decision having been taken but to say she was overruling NHS Lothian was a lie.”
At a further meeting,
Houston said Freeman was furious and claimed the health secretary offered “zero engagement”.
He added: “She didn’t argue, she didn’t debate. She simply kept expressing and signifying her impatience and contempt. It was embarrassing.”
He claimed she said: “If you don’t resign, I will fire you.”
Scottish Lib Dem health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “For a senior health official to come out and accuse the Cabinet Secretary of lying is incredibly serious.
“Jeane Freeman should come to Parliament to address Mr Houston’s allegations.
“We are facing a series of escalating public health crises. The public need to be assured that ministers and health bosses are pulling in the same direction.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We totally refute the claims made by Mr Houston.”