Family Demands Truth from Sturgeon Over Hospital Infection Tragedy
The grieving mother of a ten-year-old girl who died after contracting an infection at Glasgow's flagship hospital has issued a powerful plea to former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, urging her to "come forward and be honest" about her knowledge of the facility's issues prior to its opening.
A Mother's Heartbreaking Quest for Answers
Kimberly Darroch's daughter, Milly Main, tragically passed away following an infection acquired at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow. Speaking at a press conference alongside Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar on Friday, Ms Darroch delivered an emotional appeal directly to Ms Sturgeon, who served as health secretary when the hospital was commissioned and as first minister when it opened in 2015.
"We don't actually know who applied pressure, it's really not for me to say," Ms Darroch stated. "I do believe Nicola Sturgeon knows something, my message to her is to come forward and be honest."
Health Board Admits Environmental Role in Infections
The hospital has been under intense scrutiny by the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) admitting in its closing submission last week that the hospital environment likely contributed to infections. The health board's statement also revealed that "pressure" was applied to ensure the facility opened on schedule.
While welcoming this change in stance, Ms Darroch expressed frustration that this position should have been taken six years earlier. "Given the evidence we have heard throughout this inquiry and subsequent closing submissions heard this week, I feel strongly that this is the position GGC should have taken six years ago," she said. "We are closer to the truth today than we were six years ago, nevertheless I feel as though we only know half the story."
Multiple Families Affected by Hospital Failures
Louise Slorance, whose husband Andrew died after contracting an infection at the same hospital, also spoke at the press conference, delivering a scathing assessment of the health board's response. "After a decade, we are at a critical and dangerous juncture in the story of the QEUH infection scandal with GGC accepting carefully chosen and narrowly focused failures to admit to," she stated.
Ms Slorance rejected the health board's apology, noting it was "only provided through their lawyers in a public setting," and expressed concern that "for the sake of money and reputation, they will continue to gamble with people's lives."
Whistleblowers Praised for Their Courage
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar paid tribute to both the affected families and three doctors who blew the whistle on issues at the hospital: Dr Teresa Inkster, Dr Penelope Redding, and Dr Christine Peters. "They are three amazing, inspiring, strong women that were willing to risk their jobs, willing to risk their professional reputations, and willing to take on the might of an organisation that attempted to bully and silence them," he said.
Mr Sarwar added that if the whistleblowers remained unsatisfied with hospital management, "then neither am I and neither should anybody across our great country."
Calls for Full Transparency and Prevention
Ms Darroch emphasized that her quest for truth continues despite the emotional toll. "All I've ever asked for is the truth, the truth of what went so catastrophically wrong and why at Glasgow's super-hospital," she said. "This journey has been utterly heartbreaking for myself and Milly's family, the only thing I can be sure of today is that Milly does not want me to give up until the truth is uncovered."
She called on health board executives to "admit where, when and why it went wrong" and addressed the Scottish Government directly: "I expected more from you – your actions have failed us and our children." Her ultimate goal, shared by other affected families, is to ensure such tragedies never recur.
Both NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Nicola Sturgeon have been approached for comment regarding these serious allegations and calls for transparency.
