Widow Demands NHS Communications Chief's Dismissal Over Hospital Snooping Scandal
The widow of a civil servant who died at a scandal-hit Scottish hospital has issued a powerful call for the immediate sacking of an NHS communications director. Louise Slorance has publicly demanded the removal of Sandra Bustillo, the Director of Communications and Public Engagement at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, following revelations that the health board secretly monitored her social media activity.
Systematic Surveillance of Grieving Families
Mrs Slorance revealed that Ms Bustillo was in charge when NHSGGC conducted what she describes as "abhorrent" surveillance operations. The health board engaged in social media monitoring of families who had been critical of patient care, including tracking Mrs Slorance's online activity after she raised concerns about her husband's treatment.
"Sandra Bustillo was in charge of the NHS communications team during this whole scandal," Mrs Slorance stated. "She was responsible for NHSGGC spying on me, and spying on my dead husband's social media accounts – then acting as if this was completely normal behaviour."
Tragic Background to the Controversy
The controversy centres on the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, a £1 billion facility that has faced multiple allegations of systemic failures. Mrs Slorance's husband, Andrew Slorance, was a key member of Nicola Sturgeon's team who died in December 2020 after contracting Covid-19 while receiving cancer treatment at the hospital.
Further distressing details have emerged about Mr Slorance's care, with his widow claiming that information about him contracting a potentially deadly fungal infection was withheld from his family. The hospital has since admitted that some patient infections were probably linked to water system issues within the facility.
Revelations of Inappropriate Conduct
According to Mrs Slorance, Ms Bustillo made particularly insensitive comments about another concerned family, suggesting they might have "won the battle" but she would "win the war." This remark has been cited as evidence of what critics describe as a toxic culture within the health board's communications department.
"What kind of way is that to speak about anyone who has gone through the level of trauma we have?" Mrs Slorance questioned. "Sandra Bustillo clearly is not fit to hold the important job she has, and if NHSGGC is serious about changing the culture it should start by removing her from her job."
Former Colleague Corroborates Concerns
A former colleague of Ms Bustillo has come forward to describe a hostile working environment within the communications team. The source told of regular "personal comments and snide remarks" being made about anyone who challenged the health board's official narrative.
"The unprofessionalism, the comments being made... about whistleblowers, about anyone who dared to challenge NHSGGC's sanctioned version of events was completely unacceptable," the former colleague revealed.
Financial Details of Surveillance Programme
Official documents show that NHSGGC paid approximately £15,000 to a private company called Meltwater for social media monitoring services. This revelation has sparked outrage that taxpayer money was used to surveil grieving families rather than improve patient care.
Meanwhile, the health board's corporate communications team represents a significant financial investment, with staff salaries totalling at least £620,000 according to 2023 figures. The highest-paid members of this team earned up to £98,384 annually.
Health Board's Response and Ongoing Inquiry
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has issued a statement acknowledging past failures while attempting to distance itself from the surveillance practices. "We want to reassure all members of the public that NHSGGC does not conduct social media listening, although we acknowledge this was historically used, for which we subsequently apologised," a spokesman stated.
The board emphasised its commitment to cultural improvement and organisational learning, noting that significant changes have been implemented to enhance governance and oversight. However, officials declined to comment further while the public inquiry into hospital practices remains ongoing.
Background of the Communications Director
Sandra Bustillo was appointed to her current role in February 2020, bringing over three decades of NHS communications experience to the position. Her career with Greater Glasgow health services began in 1992 as a graduate management trainee, progressing through various senior roles including deputy director and head of communications positions.
The ongoing scandal has raised serious questions about accountability, transparency, and ethical standards within one of Scotland's largest health boards, with campaigners demanding fundamental changes to prevent similar incidents occurring in future.
