Labour’s motion is rejected
JACKIE Baillie made an emotional appeal to the SNP Government yesterday to tell Glasgow’s health board bosses they no longer have confidence in them.
Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman told MSPs that families were owed answers over the deaths of loved ones at the QEUH.
But a Labour motion calling on the senior leadership of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to be sacked was rejected thanks to SNP and Green votes by 64 to 54.
Baillie said: “To the families watching this debate today, this will have been a deeply upsetting experience.
“It will have brought back anger towards those who covered up the truth from them.
“It is incumbent on all of us to demonstrate this parliament will not stand by when NHS staff are being bullied and blamed.
“Far too often … I have had to raise the heartbreaking impact of infection outbreaks in our hospitals on the families and friends left behind.
“From the deaths following the C.diff outbreak at the Vale of Leven to the tragedy continuing to this day at the QEUH.
“Each one of those deaths is avoidable.
“And while we can’t bring back those taken too soon we can help deliver some justice to their families.”
Anas Sarwar claimed doctors and nurses at the QEUH were being used as a “human shield” to protect the health board.
But public health minister Maree Todd said: “When we are considering individual claims, it is vital that specific consent is given … before comments can be made.
“It would be totally inappropriate for me or any other member to discuss cases where that consent is not explicit from the families involved.”