We were lied to and smeared, say hospital inquiry families

Families of patients who suffered or died after contracting infections while receiving treatment at Scotland’s largest hospital say they have been “lied to”, “humiliated” and “vilified”.

The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) complex opened in Glasgow in 2015, but NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) has since said it opened too early and faced design flaws.

It was recognized that infections of some cancer patients were likely linked to problems in the hospital’s water system.

NHSGGC offered a “sincere and unreserved” apology to patients and families affected by the incident and said the hospital was now safe.

Inside Final submissions to the Scottish Hospitals InquiryNHSGGC said it was likely that there was a “causal link” between infections suffered by patients and “the hospital environment, particularly the water system”.

However, he emphasized that there is no definitive link between the hospital environment and specific individual cases of infection.

Thompson Lawyers represents the majority of affected families and has released a statement from them.

They said major failures in the hospital’s water and ventilation system were “killing and poisoning our loved ones.”

The statement continues: “We have all been lied to by GGCH [Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board]. GGCH did not believe all of us.

“We have all been humiliated and slandered by GGCH. We have all had our families devastated and our lives traumatized because of GGCH.”

He adds: “We cannot overstate the level of deceit and conniving cowardice displayed by GGCH in the unfolding of this terrible scandal.

“As men, women and children sickened and died, we were all told there was nothing to see here.”

The families called for “those past and present who presided over this despicable incompetence” to be held accountable and for pensions accrued during their hospital stays to be restored.

They also called on political leaders to take action.

“QEUH is not a safe hospital,” they said. “The current leadership of GGCH cannot be trusted to make this safe.”

Families thanked the “many brave and respected clinicians and staff” who tried to speak out but were “silenced” by the medical board.

“We will never forget that they were with us,” they added.

In response, the health board said: “Extensive steps have been taken to address past physical defects in the building and a significant program of maintenance and monitoring is in place.

“Our staff is dedicated to providing safe, high-quality care.”

The Scottish Hospitals Survey, which examines the planning, design, construction and maintenance of hospitals, is hearing final submissions before publishing a report later this year.

This decision was motivated by concerns about patient safety following a series of infections and numerous deaths. 10 year old Milly Main.

The inquest will hear closing statements from the families later on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Lord Brodie, the chairman of the inquiry, asked why the medical board had changed its position after claiming the paramedics who raised concerns were unprofessional and malicious.

Peter Gray, the health board’s lawyer, acknowledged that some criticism of whistleblowers was neither helpful nor fair.

He said the people running the hospital should not be criticized because the failure to listen to whistleblowers was an organizational failure, adding that changes had since been made.

Earlier this week, Scottish Labor leader Anas Sarwar called for First Minister John Swinney and former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to be recalled. An investigation has been launched into the malfunctions in the hospital.

NHSGGC has already been named by prosecutors in a corporate murder investigation investigating the deaths of Milly Main, two other children and a 73-year-old woman on the hospital campus.

The death of Molly Cuddihy last year also Being investigated by the Crown Office.

The Glasgow hospital campus, which includes the QEUH and the Royal Children’s Hospital, opened to patients in 2015.

It was built at a cost of £840 million and replaced three former hospitals in the city.

But a large number of patient deaths and infections within a few years raised concerns about water and ventilation systems.

Former Health Secretary Jeane Freeman ordered a public inquiry in 2019, which included problems at her remit, the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh (RHCYP).

The opening of the Edinburgh facility was postponed at the last minute due to safety concerns about the ventilation system.

The interim report of the public inquiry into the RHCYP has already been published. spreadsheet error from medical board led to incorrect specification of the system.