Meeting of the Parliament 28 January 2026 [Draft]
I confirm that we will support the motion at decision time.
Although extensive remedial work has been done to the building, people will have been frightened and worried by the series of headlines about infections. It is up to both NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the Scottish Government to reassure people that, when they are treated for a serious illness such as cancer, they will be safe. The poor communication between the health board and patients and their families has been a stand-out revelation during the inquiry. Likewise, clinical staff deserve to know that they are working in a safe environment, so that they can get on with the incredible work they do. Their efforts should not be hampered by working in a building that threatens their patients’ safety. Frankly, they should not have to worry about that. It is not their job to do so, and they have been failed too.
Whistleblowing staff have also been let down. One microbiologist said that she felt discouraged from speaking up at infection control meetings. Another senior doctor said that she was advised by a senior colleague to “pipe down” or she would find things hard professionally. She has previously said that she had been flagging concerns about the building since 2014 and was advised not to put anything in writing.
Staff need to know that, when they raise concerns, they will be listened to. Although NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has accepted that its previous criticisms of the whistleblowers were neither helpful nor fair, it is clear that the whistleblowing system failed, and that will not be conducive to others coming forward with concerns in the future. The health board has a lot of work to do to assure staff that whistleblowers will be protected and, most importantly, taken seriously.
Much has been made of the fact that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has admitted that pressure was applied to open the hospital on time and on budget, and it is now clear that the hospital opened too early. The board has since clarified that there was internal pressure, but that begs the question of how we have reached the point that a health board feels so under pressure to deliver that it sacrifices patient safety for the sake of remaining on budget. What series of decisions were taken, and how can we prevent anything like that ever happening again?
The on-going inquiries should be allowed to conclude in their own time, and any conclusions need to be acted on quickly and comprehensively. However, before those recommendations are available, we need to ensure that anyone attending the hospital can be fully confident that they are safe. The Scottish Government and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care must lead the way on that.
I move amendment S6M-20561.3, to insert at end:
“; acknowledges that recent revelations surrounding the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital will have been distressing for patients, their families and staff; understands that this could create uncertainty and fear regarding the safety of Scotland’s hospitals and negatively impact staff morale; recognises that patient privacy has to be given the greatest consideration in the publication of any materials, and calls for the Scottish Government to outline how it will urgently restore confidence into the services delivered by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.”
15:43Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.