First Minister claims hospital is safe after ward was closed
By Ryan Quinn
Swinney claims hospital is safe during FMQ [Image: Unsplash]
First Minister, John Swinney has maintained that the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) is ‘safe’ after a ward was closed due to ‘safety concerns’ relating to damp and mould.
At First Minister’s Questions today, Anas Sarwar, leader of the Scottish Labour Party, accused the First Minister of “turning his back” on the affected families of the ongoing QEUH contaminated water scandal.
Sarwar said: “Last week in this chamber, John Swinney, shamefully turned his back on families affected by the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital scandal.”
The First Minister refuted Sarwar’s allegations, he said: “The first thing I want to say to Mr. Sarwar is there was no disrespect offered by me to families last week. I was simply sitting in my chair, looking at Mr. Sarwar and answering his questions.
“He should stop misrepresenting me in this chamber,”
Sarwar stood by his allegation and shared his opinion on how those affected would react. Sarwar said: “To be frank, patients and families will see right through the nonsense of John Swinney because they’ve heard it for eight years.”
John Swinney said: “I consider the hospital to be safe” [Image: Getty Images]
Highlighting the news earlier this week that ward four B at the QEUH had been closed due to ‘safety concerns’ of mould and a heightened infection risk. Sarwar said: “Yet again it has taken whistleblowers and journalists to reveal infection risks to immunocompromised patients.”
Sarwar then shared a statement from Louise Slorance, the widow of an SNP official, who died after contracting a fungal infection in the QEUH while undergoing treatment for Long Covid.
Slorance said: “It is beggars’ belief that as this incident was ongoing, the health board, the First Minister and the Health Secretary were publicly proclaiming the hospital was safe. Nobody should be saying that it is. Those responsible prioritise reputation over patient safety.”
Sarwar then spoke to the entire government frontbench, saying: “Shame on every single one of you.”
The First Minister responded to the statements in the chamber, Swinney said: “The government received an amber alert last Thursday regarding ward four B at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
“This morning, the government was advised that alert was upgraded to red. This is to acknowledge the heightened public anxiety of this matter.
“The wards in question are safe, and I consider the hospital to be safe.”
“Why is John Swinney incapable of doing the right thing?” [Image: Getty Images]
In response, Sarwar raised previous issues that have been uncovered in the last few weeks relating to the hospital. He said: “We now know that political pressure was applied to open a hospital that was ready and safe and people died as a result.
“We know repeated warnings of infection were ignored, we know that staff were bullied and attempts to silence them were made and we know families were offered bribes for their silence.
“Families do not trust him. Why is John Swinney incapable of doing the right thing?”
The First Minister said: “I completely and utterly reject that charge. In relation to grieving families, I will meet grieving families this afternoon.
“We have established an oversight group which involves representatives of families and chaired by the CEO of NHS greater Glasgow and Clyde. On the question of openness, I have put on the record the information that is available to me today.
“I could not be more open with parliament today. What I would say to Anas Sarwar at this particular moment is that this government recognises the deep concern of families and that is being addressed by the steps that we are taking.”
A statement from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “Where historical issues have been identified, comprehensive programmes of remediation and assurance have been undertaken. Safety is actively managed every day and we continue to monitor performance including the use of approved equipment to ensure wards remain safe for our patients,”
They continued: “As part of the ongoing Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, a number of matters are being investigated, and we are fully committed to supporting the inquiry in its considerations of the planning, design, construction, commissioning and maintenance of the QEUH/RHC.”