Holyrood to debate QEUH scandal

CALLS for health board bosses to be sacked over the deadly infection scandal at Glasgow’s flagship hospital will be debated at Holyrood this week.

Scottish Labour will lead a debate on Wednesday to renew calls for senior management of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) health board to be sacked as a result of the infection scandal at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH).

Leader Anas Sarwar last week demanded that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon bring the hospital under direct ministerial control and sack senior management figures amid concern about waterborne infections at QEUH.

At First Minister’s Questions, Mr Sarwar revealed that a further two deaths at the hospital may have been linked to the infected water supply.

Mr Sarwar said: “In any other country, there would be resignations and sackings. But under this SNP Government, it has been nothing but denial and cover-up.

“This must be a line in the sand; Nicola Sturgeon must decide if she is on the side of bereaved families and bullied clinicians, or out-of-touch managers.

“She has a straight choice on the leadership of the health board – back them or sack them.

“That’s why this week in Parliament, Scottish Labour will give all parties the chance to do right by the families affected and vote to send a message to this Government that words are not enough.”

Ms Sturgeon said: “When concerns are raised about the cause of someone’s death, then that has to be properly investigated, so that the action that is then taken as a result of that is the right action.”

While she accepted “these are serious matters”, she added: “We do not do justice to the families concerned if we simply call for action that is not based on proper investigation, proper scrutiny and proper consideration.”

Following FMQS, a spokesman for NHSGGC said: “Hearing such speculation and allegations has been extremely difficult for our staff and patients alike.”

The spokesman said the continued claims that NHSGGC was failing to be transparent across all areas of patient care and building safety were

“of serious concern”.