Meeting Notes Reveal Political Pressure in Hospital Opening, Says Scottish Labour Leader
Official meeting notes prepared for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde indicate that the health board felt "political pressure" to open the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, according to evidence presented by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar during First Minister's Questions on Thursday.
Contradictory Evidence Emerges
Mr Sarwar brought the document to parliament just one week after First Minister John Swinney stated that no pressure had been applied by the Scottish Government to open the hospital on schedule. The Scottish Labour leader told the chamber he had "official Scottish Government meeting notes" that directly contradicted this position.
The notes relate to meetings held on December 16 and 19, 2019, and January 10, 2020, involving a Scottish Government official appointed by the then health secretary, the health board's director of facilities, and a consultant engaged to review what went wrong with the hospital project.
Key Findings from Meeting Notes
According to Mr Sarwar, the document states clearly that "political pressure was also being felt" and that "no consideration was given to delaying the opening of the hospital despite the issues being faced with completion and operation."
The meeting minutes also recorded advice from Jim Leiper, who worked in the NHS for 38 years and ended his career as strategic director of facilities at National Services Scotland, and Tom Steele, director of estates and facilities at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Both suggested that "lessons could be learned from the building" process, including the political pressure that was being experienced, though the document does not specify the source of this pressure.
First Minister's Response and Inquiry Context
In response to the allegations, Mr Swinney pointed to the ongoing Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, stating: "There is an inquiry under way that is exploring all of these issues, which is taking evidence in the presence of Lord Brodie, and a properly constituted public inquiry that is exploring all of these issues that are at stake."
The First Minister referenced the counsel to the inquiry's statement on January 23, which said there was "no evidence of external pressure on NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to open the hospital early or before it was ready to be opened." He emphasised that Lord Brodie is considering all relevant issues as part of the inquiry process.
Background of the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry
The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, which heard closing submissions last week, has been examining the design and construction of both the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Children, which share the same campus in Glasgow. The inquiry was launched following deaths linked to infections at the facilities, including that of 10-year-old Milly Main in 2017.
Mr Sarwar has been calling for inquiry chairman Lord Brodie to specifically consider the actions of the Scottish Government in the commissioning, construction, and opening of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. The Labour leader's presentation of these meeting notes represents a significant development in the ongoing political debate surrounding the hospital's troubled opening and subsequent infection-related issues.
