Glasgow health board named a suspect in corporate homicide probe into deaths of children

Scotland’s largest health board has been named as a formal suspect in a corporate homicide investigation into the deaths of four people at a Glasgow hospital.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) said it was “premature” to suggest prosecutors had formed a final view on the probe into the incidents at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH).

Police Scotland launched a criminal investigation in 2021 into a number of deaths at the QEUH campus, including Milly, two other children and 73-year-old Gail Armstrong.

The deaths of three children and one adult are being investigated as part of the probe. iStock

NHSGGC said they were continuing to cooperate with the probe.

“Our sympathies remain with the families who have been affected by events at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and Royal Hospital for Children,” a spokesperson said.

“We have received a communication from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) about this update to the status of their ongoing inquiry. It should be made clear that this letter does not indicate that the COPFS have formed a final view.”

Milly’s mother, Kimberley Darroch, previously told the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry her daughter’s death had been “murder”.

She accused staff of “covering up” the true cause of Milly’s death, adding she only found out about it in media reports two years later.

Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who has campaigned on behalf of the families of children who died in the hospital, said they were now “one step closer” to gaining justice.

“Throughout this entire ordeal, Kimberly and all those who lost loved ones have shown extraordinary courage, while the health board engaged in denial and cover-up. To this day, nobody has been held to account for what went so tragically wrong.

“I long argued that had this scandal occurred in the private sector, there would have been a criminal investigation.

“I hope the full force of the law is used so that no family ever again has to go through what Milly’s family have been through.”

A COPFS spokesperson said they would not comment on a live investigation.

A Police Scotland statement added: “COPFS asked Police Scotland to investigate a number of deaths at QEUH campus, Glasgow.

“Our investigation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”