THE PATIENT
It’s clear there was something very wrong in that place
The mum of a girl who picked up infections while fighting leukaemia at the Royal Children’s Hospital yesterday blamed the contaminated water supply.
Mum of four Charmaine Lacock’s daughter Paige, three, was a patient at the hospital in September last year.
Charmaine, 41, from Knightswood, Glasgow, said: “Paige was in remission when she was struck down with an infection in her Hickman line.
“We were told she had a staphylococcus infection at the site of the line. It had to be removed.
“We were told Paige was very ill and had to be pumped full of antibiotics.
“We asked how that happened, but we’ve still never had a proper answer.”
Charmaine said she remembers washing her daughter in a bath just before the infection struck.
She said: “At the time, you don’t add things up. Looking back, like so many of the other parents who had kids in the same wards, I’m convinced it somehow came from a contaminated water supply or the plumbing at the hospital.
“The staphylococcus returned for second time a few weeks later.
“In March, Paige became ill again and we were told this time they had found pseudomonas, which can be difficult to treat. I asked again where it came from, but was never given a straight answer.
“We kept being told the microbiologist would speak to us, but they never did.
“When we raised concerns and insisted blood samples had to be continually taken, we were made to feel as if we were being unreasonable.
“We will always be grateful that our little girl is here and is getting better and stronger all the time.
“But it’s clear something was very wrong in that place.”
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde chief executive, Jane Grant, said: “Rebuilding trust and confidence with families is our priority. I have written again to parents this week to invite anyone who has unanswered questions to meet me.”
A health board spokeswoman said all parents had been invited to a meeting with the chairman, chief executive and medical directors which took place on November 2. She said Charmaine had been offered further meetings with staff, and with professor Craig White, a senior medical officer with Scottish Government.