‘Milestone' reached in hospital probe
An inquir y into t wo of S cotland's newest hospitals has reached a "significant mile - stone" as it invites applications from people or organisations that want to be core par ticipants in it, its chairman has said.
T h e S c o t t i s h H o s p i t a l s Inqui r y is investig ating the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e Q u e e n Elizab eth Universit y Hospital (QEUH) campus in Glasgow and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young Peo - ple and Department of Clinical Neurosciences in Edinburgh.
It will determine how issues relating to adequacy of ventilation, water contamination and other matters affected patient safety and care and whether these issues could have been prevented.
K i m b e r l y D a r r o c h , t h e mother of 10 -year- old Milly Main, who died in the QEUH in 2017 after contracting an infection, has blamed contaminated water in the £842 million hospital for her death.
S h e h a s l a u n c h e d l e g a l action against NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
A n i n d e p e n d e n t r e v i e w published in June found no sound evidence that avoidable deaths have resulted from failures in the design, build, commissioning or maintenance of the QEUH and Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.
C o r e p a r t i c i p a n t s i n t h e inquiry can include individuals, organisations or entities with a significant interest in the matters it will investigate.
Lord Brodie, inquir y chairman, said: "Since announcing the launch of the Scottish Hospitals Inquir y in August we have made substantial progress.
"This has included meeting with representatives of affected patients and their families, gathering relevant documentation and identifying specific lines of investigation.
"The invitation for applications for core participant status is another significant milestone."
He added: "Between now and the end of Decemb er, those who have par ticularly rele - vant contributions to make and who wish to engage more closely with the inquir y can apply.
"I would encourage patients, families and anyone else who h a s i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t t h e y think may assist the inquiry in fulfilling its terms of reference to please get in touch."
Core participants can make an opening and closing statement at certain hearings, their recognised legal representative may apply to the chairman to ask questions of a witness and they will receive a copy of the inquiry's report before it is published.
The opening of the £150 million Royal Hospital for Child r e n a n d Yo u n g Pe o p l e i n Edinburgh was delayed days b e f o r e i t wa s d u e t o a d mi t patients last year, sparking a furious political reaction and i n c r e a s i n g p r e s s u r e o n t h e SNP to hold an investigation into its construction.
A w h i s t l e b l o w e r l a t e r claimed errors in the original specifications were raised but no action was taken to overcome them.
The inquir y will also exami n e w h e t h e r t h e h o s p i t a l buildings provide a suitable environment for the deliver y of safe, effective care and will ma ke r e c o mme n d a t i o n s t o ensure any past mistakes are n o t r e p e a t e d i n f u t u r e NHS infrastructure projects.