Sarwar Demands Hospital Inquiry Reopened, Vows 'We Are Not Going Away'
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has issued a stark warning to government ministers, declaring 'we are not going away' as he called for the inquiry into the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital to be reopened. Speaking on Tuesday to mark 100 days until the Scottish Parliament elections in May, Sarwar urged Lord Brodie to reopen the investigation and question former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, former Deputy First Minister John Swinney, and former Health Secretary Shona Robison.
Call for Political Accountability
Sarwar emphasised that the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, which heard closing submissions last week, has examined the design and construction of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) and the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow. However, he argued it has not sufficiently investigated political decision-making. 'I believe what has happened at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital is criminal incompetence. It's negligence, it's criminal incompetence, and those responsible must be held to account,' Sarwar stated.
He continued: 'What the public inquiry has done is look in detail at the decision-making and the decision-making gaps in the managers and the staff on the site. What it hasn't done is investigate and question those responsible for the political decision-making. So I believe that Lord Brodie should reopen the inquiry.'
Demand for Transparency
Sarwar insisted that Lord Brodie should hear directly from Sturgeon, Swinney, and Robison to ensure full transparency. 'So we can have full transparency about who knew what and when and why that hospital was allowed to open too early and the negative consequences, devastating consequences, that follow with patients getting infections they shouldn't have and lives were lost when they shouldn't have, too,' he said.
The inquiry was launched following deaths linked to infections, including that of 10-year-old Milly Main in 2017. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde recently admitted the hospital was opened too soon due to 'pressure' on the board, sparking a political firestorm with opposition politicians accusing the Scottish government of applying that pressure.
Election Countdown Warning
In a forceful conclusion, Sarwar warned ministers and officials: 'Let me make this abundantly clear to every single minister in government, every single official – we are not going away. We will get the answers, we will get justice and you may try and evade that for the next 100 days, but in 100 days we will elect a new government in this country.'
He added: 'In 100 days, we will get our NHS back on track. In 100 days, we will save our NHS, but in 100 days we will then also shine a light on the most ultimate cover up in this country's political history, and you will be made to pay the price.'
Government Response
A spokesperson for the First Minister indicated that Swinney would give evidence if invited. Health Secretary Neil Gray defended the inquiry, stating: 'The Government brought forward the public inquiry so that families – some of whom I have met, and to whom I pay tribute for their work and their diligence following the trauma that they have undoubtedly experienced – can get answers to the questions that they are posing.'
Gray added: 'It is because we have instigated a public inquiry that, I believe, we are getting to the truth, and it is right that Lord Brodie now be given the space to consider all the evidence.' Approaches for comment were made to Sturgeon and NHS GGC.
