SISTERS’ FURY OVER HEALTH SECRETARY SNUB
BY VIVIENNE AITKEN v.aitken@dailyrecord.co.uk SCOTLAND’S Health Secretary has refused to meet two sisters who are trying to discover the truth about their mother’s death.
Mary Carruthers and Joyce Miller have been desperate to find out why Joyce Neil, 73, died in Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, four years ago.
But Shona Robison has snubbed the pair’s request for a meeting.
The sisters had raised complaints about great-gran Joyce’s treatment and became more concerned when they received an anonymous letter telling them there had been a cover-up.
After the Record highlighted the case police began an investigation. Their findings are being examined by the Procurator Fiscal Service.
Joyce’s death certificate states she died from cancer yet Mary claims no biopsy was ever taken and no post-mortem was carried out. The sisters believe hospital neglect was to blame.
An “adverse events” report into Joyce’s death said poor supervision of a drip was the “most significant contributing factor to the poor outcome of this patient”.
They met the health board but were not given any answers and a legal action aimed at getting answers ended two months ago without success.
Mary and Joyce’s MSP Colin Smyth wrote to Robison, asking her to meet with them to discuss the case. But months later, Robison has snubbed them, saying in a letter to Smyth that she has “nothing further to add” on the case. Robison said it was “NHS boards and healthcare professionals locally who have responsibility for service delivery and patient treatments”.
Last night, Mary and Joyce were furious at Robison’s “very dismissive” letter. Mary said: “The way it has been written is very cheeky. She obviously doesn’t understand the story.
“I am getting to the end of my tether. The letter was absolutely disgusting. I feel totally let down. I’m very angry. The Health Secretary clearly doesn’t care.”
Labour’s health spokesman Anas Sarwar said: “This is a family who clearly want and need answers. The very least Shona Robison could do is open up her doors and speak to them. This shows a complete lack of empathy for a family who have already suffered so much.”
Labour MSP Smyth added: “Mary and Joyce have been badly let down by the way the NHS treated their mum and I am angry that Shona Robison won’t speak to the family and claims this has nothing to do with her.”