Families Demand Reckoning Over Hospital Infections That 'Killed and Poisoned' Loved Ones

Families of patients treated at a Scottish hospital complex at the centre of a major infection scandal have issued a powerful statement claiming that fundamental flaws in the building's environment 'killed and poisoned our loved ones'. They are demanding that health board leadership face a full reckoning for what they describe as a devastating cover-up.

Emotional Statement Ahead of Inquiry Closing

In a deeply emotional statement released ahead of oral closing submissions to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, the families represented by Thompsons Solicitors Scotland said they were systematically 'lied to' and 'demeaned and smeared' by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC). The inquiry has been examining serious issues at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) and the adjacent Royal Hospital for Children, which share the same campus.

The investigation was launched following multiple deaths linked to infections, including the tragic case of 10-year-old Milly Main in 2017. The families' statement represents the collective voice of the vast majority of those affected by the scandal.

Health Board Admits Critical Failures

In written closing submissions to the inquiry, NHSGGC has made several significant admissions:

The health board accepted there was probably a 'causal connection' between infections suffered by patients and the hospital environment, particularly the water system
Pressure was applied to open the hospital on time and on budget, and it is now clear the facility opened 'too early' and 'was not ready'
The board offered a 'sincere and unreserved apology' to affected patients and families

Despite these admissions, NHSGGC maintains that the hospitals are safe today and that comprehensive steps have been taken to address past physical defects.

Families Describe Systematic Deceit

The families' statement paints a harrowing picture of their experiences:

Major flaws in water and ventilation systems directly contributed to patient harm
Systematic deception by the health board, with families being 'disbelieved' and 'smeared'
Devastating trauma that has permanently affected multiple families
Attempts to silence clinicians and staff who tried to speak out about safety concerns

'We cannot overstate the level of deceit and conniving cowardice displayed by GGCH during the whole unfolding of this awful scandal,' the statement reads. 'As men, women and children fell ill and died we were all told there is nothing to see here.'

Calls for Accountability and Safety Improvements

The families are demanding concrete action:

A full reckoning for past and present leadership who presided over what they call 'despicable incompetence and coverup'
Immediate action from political leaders to ensure hospital safety
Recognition that the current leadership cannot be trusted to make the hospital safe
Implementation of proper safety measures for all future patients

'The QEUH is not a safe hospital,' the families assert. 'The current leadership of GGCH cannot be trusted to make it safe. The fates of our loved ones demand the hospital is made safe. The people of Scotland demand it be made safe.'

Ongoing Inquiry and Future Implications

While NHSGGC maintains that 'it wouldn't be appropriate for us to comment further at this time while the inquiry is ongoing,' the families have made it clear they 'are not going away'. Their solidarity, they say, was crucial in forcing the public inquiry to happen in the first place.

The statement concludes with thanks to the 'brave and decent clinicians and staff' who attempted to raise concerns but were allegedly silenced by the health board. As the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry moves toward its conclusion, the families' powerful testimony ensures that questions of accountability, transparency, and patient safety will remain at the forefront of public health discussions in Scotland for years to come.