'No government pressure applied to open flagship hospital on time', says Swinney

The First Minister has said there was no pressure from the Scottish Government to open Glasgow’s super-hospital on time.

John Swinney refused to answer questions about who applied pressure to open the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) four times at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) officials told the Scottish Hospitals public inquiry that pressure was applied to open the hospital on time and on budget before it was ready.

However, Swinney has firmly denied that the pressure came from SNP Ministers.

The QEUH opened in April 2015, despite safety concerns about its water supply.

At least four patients later died from infections acquired at the hospital, including ten-year-old Milly Main, who died in 2017 while being treated for leukaemia at the Royal Hospital for Children.

Milly was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of five, but was in remission when she picked up an infection at QEUH.

The health board previously denied that bacteria in the water at the QEUH campus were to blame, but lawyers have confirmed that the board has accepted that the infections of some child cancer patients were probably caused by the water system.

NHSGGC officials told the Scottish Hospitals public inquiry: “Pressure was applied to open the hospital on time and on budget, and it is now clear that the hospital opened too early. It was not ready.”

After denying that ministers applied that pressure, Swinney refused to say who did.

He said the subject of who is to blame is “fundamental” to the conduct of the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, which is currently hearing closing submissions.

Swinney said Lord Brodie’s inquiry “must have the opportunity to consider and reflect on evidence and set out conclusions”.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called it the “biggest scandal in the history of this parliament”.

“People have died,” he said.

“Their families deserve the truth. A hospital was opened too soon with contaminated water, which infected patients, leading to deaths. The health board say pressure was applied to open before it was safe. For the third time, tell the truth. Who applied pressure and why?”

Swinney replied that the Scottish Government first became aware of the water contamination issues in March 2018.

“There then followed a sequence of events that resulted in the establishment of a public inquiry, the substance of which is considering all of this evidence,” the First Minister told MSPs.

“That is what the Government has done to make sure we face up to the issues that are raised here and that we provide answers to the families of Main and others who have suffered so significantly as a consequence.

“That is the commitment the gov has put in place, and that is the commitment Lord Brodie will fulfil.”

Swinney’s Government has previously said it would be “inappropriate” to comment on the revelations from the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry while it is ongoing.

The First Minister also committed to publishing documents not submitted to a public inquiry.

Swinney said Ministers has already shared “all relevant evidence that addresses the terms of reference of the inquiry”.

“Nonetheless, if there is anything further related to the business of Government, whether that’s cabinet minutes or ministerial correspondence not submitted to inquiry, then I’m happy to release this, subject to any appropriate redactions, and respecting of legal professional privilege,” he told MSPs.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said the commitment was “welcome”, but said it “should not have taken this long”.

He also warned the First Minister that there could be “no backsliding”.