Sturgeon slams treatment of Milly’s family
THE First Minister has branded the treatment of a family who lost their 10-yearold daughter after she contracted an infection in a Glasgow hospital “completely unacceptable”.
Nicola Sturgeon’s comments came as the family of Milly Main, who died in 2017 at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), called for a fatal accident inquiry (FAI).
Responding to a question from Labour MSP Anas Sarwar, who has worked with Milly’s family and NHS whistleblowers to highlight problems at the QEUH, Sturgeon said the decision on the FAI is for the Lord Advocate and not the Scottish Government.
She said: “Firstly, can I absolutely sympathise with Kimberly, Milly’s mum, and her wider family.
“What they have gone through is completely unacceptable and I think everybody’s heart is with them at this time.”
The First Minister said the reason for calling a public inquiry into issues at the hospital, announced by Health Secretary Jeane Freeman in September, was to deliver answers to Milly’s family and others who have lost loved ones.
She added: “In terms of the call for a fatal accident inquiry, I can absolutely understand that call and sympathise with the reasons behind that.
“Decisions on fatal accident inquiries are entirely for the law officers, they’re not for the Scottish Government, but I’m sure that the Lord Advocate will listen carefully to the representations that have been made.”
Patrick McGuire of Thompsons Solicitors has written to Lord Advocate James Wolffe on behalf of the 10-year-old’s parents Kimberly Darroch and Neil Main, and awaits a response.
Milly died after contracting an infection while recovering from leukaemia treatment at a children’s cancer ward within the flagship Glasgow hospital.