The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
MSP criticises ‘rotten’ health board culture
Further child death reported at flagship hospital
The culture at the health board responsible for the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) has been described as “rotten at the core” – after it was reported that another child has died at the Glasgow site.
Earlier in the week, a report leaked by a whistleblower indicated the Greater Glasgow and Clyde board was told areas of the flagship £800 million campus were at a “high risk” of infection before opening in 2015.
Another two reports, also leaked to Labour MSP Anas Sarwar, suggest issues were still pervasive at the hospital in 2017 and 2018.
The death of 10-year-old Milly Main in August 2017 after she had beaten cancer has been linked to an infection caused by contaminated water at the site.
Yesterday, the Herald on Sunday newspaper reported that a young patient who was receiving treatment contracted a hospital-acquired infection and died earlier this week.
Mr Sarwar and Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman, Monica Lennon, met the parents of children receiving treatment at the site on Saturday.
In a statement released by the group of 15 parents, they said they have no confidence in the board and believe it is not fit for purpose, adding those responsible should not remain in place while an investigation is carried out.
They also asked whether the site is safe and why their children are being given prophylaxis antibiotics – which is said to increase the risk of resistance and other side effects.
Speaking to the PA News agency, Mr Sarwar said: “It’s clear that the culture is rotten at the core of the health board.
“It’s clear that there is a culture there of silencing, of bullying and intimidation.
“One thing that needs to be remembered is that none of this would have potentially come to light if it wasn’t for the whistleblower putting their head above the parapet and risking their own job and sharing the information with me.
“It should not rely on a whistleblower, it shouldn’t rely on MSPs, it shouldn’t rely on a free press, although that’s all important, to get truth and answers about what’s happening in our National Health Service and to get transparency for and answers for the parents, but that’s what’s happened in this case.
“I honestly don’t believe that the health board would have acted appropriately if we hadn’t gone public.”
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said that it is bound by rules of patient confidentiality when asked about the report of the death this week.
A spokeswoman for the board said: “The issue is being appropriately managed and Health Protection Scotland has been informed. As this involves a single case, we have no further comment to make.”