Bishop compares clinic vigils to Faslane peace
FORMER Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman has said she was “furious” at the last-minute discovery of safety issues at a newly built hospital, blaming it on a “failure of governance”.
Freeman said it came as a “bolt from the blue” when she was made aware of concerns around the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh on July 2, 2019, days before it was due to open.
She halted the move from the existing site after final checks revealed the ventilation system in the critical care department of the new building did not meet the necessary standards.
Freeman told the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry she decided the new hospital could not open as planned because she was not confident that it would be a safe environment to put patients and staff into.
She also had concerns about whether other aspects of the new building would be up to standard given that the ventilation issue had been discovered at such a late stage.
Checks had found that the ventilation system was only delivering four air changes per hour in some rooms, well below the 10 required.
John MacGregor KC, senior counsel to the inquiry, referred to a report by auditors commissioned by NHS Lothian which described what happened as a “collective failure”.
The report found that an “environmental matrix” spreadsheet in 2012 wrongly stated the air change rate in critical care rooms should be four changes per hour, rather than 10, and that the mistake was missed from the outset.
The inquiry, before Lord Brodie, continues.
ABISHOP has compared prayer vigils outside abortion clinics to antinuclear peace camps at Faslane. Bishop John Keenan was giving evidence to Holyrood’s Health Committee, which is scrutinising the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill.
This bill would make it illegal for anyone to harass, intimidate or be seen to influence a woman going for a termination within 200m of an abortion clinic. it was not
While arguing that place is important for people who want to pray for women going for an abortion, Keenan appeared to suggest that prayer vigils were similar to demonstrations held at HMNB Clyde where the UK’s weapons of mass destruction are held.
He also made comparisons to protests arguing for the rights of asylum seekers happening outside Dungavel detention centre in South Lanarkshire.
He told the committee: “We could take places where location has been important like Faslane. For years there was a peace camp there just discussed with you?” Hunter replied: “No.”
The lawyer then asked: “Do you know how it came about that that decision was taken?”
Hunter said: “My personal view was that they just seen a man, 83, dressed for a nursing home, and he was disposable.”
A spokesperson for NHS Ayrshire and Arran said: “On behalf of NHS Ayrshire and Arran I would like to take the opportunity to express our sincere condolences to the family of John Cowan, who sadly died after testing positive for Coronavirus (Covid-19) in 2020.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with all those who lost a loved one at this time.
“In order to protect patient confidentiality, and as this is an ongoing inquiry, we are unable to provide any further information at this time.”
The inquiry, sitting before Lord Brailsford, continues. outside the nuclear facility. It was important for them they were at Faslane.
“Similarly with Dungavel detention centre, my predecessor often went along to the protests outside Dungavel, because presence is important.
“I think this question about being there in terms of pro-life vigils has implications for Faslane and Dungavel. The same reasoning that could apply to these pro-life vigils can very easily, just change the context slightly, can apply against those who are for peace.”
There were multiple references to Faslane throughout the session and witnesses were told by MSPs to desist from referring to protests in different contexts.
There were also comparisons made between the protests outside hospitals and prayer services at memorial sites for road accidents and even 9/11.
Gillian Mackay, the MSP spearheading the bill, has since branded Keenan’s comments “totally inappropriate”.
She said: “These protests are being held to intimidate people out of accessing healthcare. They cannot be compared to a peace camp or