Board’s actions provoke concern

Scotland’s health secretary has said she has “a great deal of concerns” over the way Glasgow’s health board has handled a scandalhit hospital – and has not ruled out government intervention.

On Good Morning Scotland yesterday, Jeane Freeman said putting NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) in special measures is “always an option”.

Ms Freeman said she would be making a statement at Holyrood this week on the matter.

Last used on a beleaguered NHS Tayside in 2018, special measures mean the Scottish Government takes a more direct role in the management of a chosen health board.

NHSGGC has again come under fire after it emerged that police are investigating the death of a three-year-old boy at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in August 2017, the same month as 10-year-old Milly Main.

Two wards at the Royal Hospital for Children – on the same campus as QEUH – were closed in September last year following concerns from Health Protection Scotland over incidents of water contamination.